Safety and efficacy of balloon-mounted stent in the treatment of symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic disease: a multicenter experience.

BACKGROUND: Randomized clinical trials have failed to prove that the safety and efficacy of endovascular treatment for symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD) is better than that of medical management. A recent study using a self-expandable stent showed acceptable lower rates of periprocedural complications. OBJECTIVE: To study the safety and efficacy of a balloon-mounted stent (BMS) in the treatment of symptomatic ICAD. METHODS: Prospectively maintained databases from 15 neuroendovascular centers between 2010 and 2020 were reviewed. Patients were included if they had severe symptomatic intracranial stenosis in the target artery, medical management had failed, and they underwent intracranial stenting with BMS after 24 hours of the qualifying event. The primary outcome was the occurrence of stroke and mortality within 72 hours after the procedure. Secondary outcomes were the occurrence of stroke, transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), and mortality on long-term follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 232 patients were eligible for the analysis (mean age 62.8 years, 34.1% female). The intracranial stenotic lesions were located in the anterior circulation in 135 (58.2%) cases. Recurrent stroke was the qualifying event in 165 (71.1%) while recurrent TIA was identified in 67 (28.9%) cases. The median (IQR) time from the qualifying event to stenting was 5 (2-20.75) days. Strokes were reported in 13 (5.6%) patients within 72 hours of the procedure; 9 (3.9%) ischemic and 4 (1.7%) hemorrhagic, and mortality in 2 (0.9%) cases. Among 189 patients with median follow-up time 6 (3-14.5) months, 12 (6.3%) had TIA and 7 (3.7%) had strokes. Three patients (1.6%) died from causes not related to stroke. CONCLUSION: Our study has shown that BMS may be a safe and effective treatment for medically refractory symptomatic ICAD. Additional prospective randomized clinical trials are warranted.

Novel in vivo Assessment of Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysm Inflammatory Factors.

Background and Purpose: The growth and eventual rupture of intracranial aneurysms may be due to an underlying inflammatory process as evidenced by pathological examination of aneurysm walls. We hypothesize that unruptured aneurysms have an increased inflammatory milieu within their lumen in comparison to the rest of the cerebral arterial vascular system. Methods: Blood was sampled from unruptured aneurysms in patients presenting for aneurysm coil embolization and C3 and C4 complement values from this serum were compared with complement values in the parent artery. Results: Ten patients were enrolled over 32 months with a mean aneurysm size of 9.1 mm. Compared to control samples drawn from peripheral circulation, there were significant decreases of both C3 (p = 0.0003) and C4 (p = 0.0063) levels in aneurysmal blood samples. Conclusions: A state of decreased complement indicative of classic pathway activation was found in all tested aneurysms, thus providing evidence of an ongoing process of complement activation in the blood of live, unruptured aneurysm sacs.

Sequential sidelong balloon remodeling technique in coil embolization of a wide-necked basilar tip aneurysm.

The use of balloon remodeling technique for coil embolization has developed into a safe alternative to stent assisted coil embolization for wide-necked aneurysms. Dual antiplatelet therapy when a stent is placed for assistance in the treatment of ruptured aneurysms is of concern. There are cases in which a single balloon seems insufficient to protect from coil herniation, like when two vessels are in the proximity of the side of the aneurysm neck. Techniques using two balloons for remodeling have been described; however, dual vascular access may be required. A case is presented in which a ruptured basilar tip wide-necked aneurysm was treated with a single balloon, using a sequential sidelong balloon remodeling technique. Complete embolization of the aneurysm was achieved maintaining patency of bilateral posterior cerebral arteries.

Aspirin treatment failure and the risk of recurrent stroke and death among patients with ischemic stroke.

BACKGROUND: The prognostic value of occurrence of ischemic stroke in a patient despite aspirin treatment (aspirin treatment failure) is not known. Our objective was to determine if aspirin treatment failure predicts recurrent ischemic stroke and/or death. METHODS: We performed a post-hoc analysis of data from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) trial and the Trial of ORG 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment (TOAST). Multivariate analysis was used to calculate the odds ratio (OR) of recurrent stroke and recurrent stroke or death for aspirin treatment failure patients for the duration of available follow-up (3 months for TOAST patients; 12 months for NINDS rt-PA trial patients). RESULTS: The rate of aspirin treatment failure was 40% and 35% among 1275 patients and 624 patients recruited in the TOAST and NINDS rt-PA trials, respectively. The risk of stroke and death at 3 months and 1 year was not higher among patients classified as aspirin treatment failures among the TOAST (OR 1.1; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.8-1.6; P = .7) or NINDS rt-PA trial patients (OR 0.8; 95% CI 0.6-1.3; P = .4), respectively. In subgroup analysis, aspirin treatment failure was not found to be associated with recurrent stroke or with the combined endpoint of stroke and death among categories defined by etiologic subtype, including those with large artery atherosclerosis. CONCLUSIONS: In a post-hoc analysis of 2 randomized ischemic stroke trials, aspirin treatment failure was not found to be associated with an increased risk of recurrent stroke or death.

Vessel occlusion using a single long oversized coil in vertebral artery dissection: a technical note.

Vertebral artery dissection may lead to stroke. Medical therapy is usually the first line of treatment. The endovascular approach of medically refractory vertebral artery dissection may include numerous techniques, including coil occlusion of the parent vessel. Two cases are presented of medically refractory symptomatic vertebral artery dissections in which vessel coil occlusion was successfully achieved with a single long oversized coil. There were no periprocedural complications and both patients had excellent clinical and angiographic outcome and remained asymptomatic on follow-up. The use of a single long oversized coil in vessel sacrifice has not been described previously. It represents a safe, rapid and cost effective alternative to the current existing techniques for vessel sacrifice.

Frequency and factors associated with unsuccessful lead (first) coil placement in patients undergoing coil embolization of intracranial aneurysms.

BACKGROUND: There is limited knowledge about associated rates, aneurysm characteristics, technical factors, and immediate impact of unsuccessful placement of the lead (first) coil during endovascular embolization of intracranial aneurysms. OBJECTIVE: To determine the rates, associated risk factors, and consequences of lead coil placement failure in consecutive embolization procedures. METHODS: We reviewed clinical and procedural aspects of all endovascular coil embolizations performed at our 2 academic centers over a period of 3.5 years (2006-2010). Morphologic characteristics of the aneurysm and technical aspects of the treatment were recorded. We also performed a flow model analysis to assess the relationship between aneurysm dimensions, length of coil, packing density with first coil, and occurrence of lead coil placement failure. RESULTS: There were 24 (14%) lead coil placement failure procedures in 172 aneurysm embolization procedures; in 23 of 24 (96%) patients with lead coil placement failure, the failure occurred in aneurysms less than 10 mm in size. The main technical factors associated with lead coil placement failure were related to the coil (length, diameter, and type) followed by microcatheter support failure. Among these patients, 21 (87.5%) required change in the coil length, 17 (70.8%) change in coil diameter, and 10 (41.7%) change in coil type (brand and/or configuration) for successful placement of the lead coil. A total of 4 (16.7%) patients required change in microcatheter, and 6 (24.9%) patients had balloon/stent assistance for successful lead coil placement. Two of 24 (8.3%) patients had rupture of their aneurysms during the attempt to reposition the lead coil. In our flow model, these clinical observations were reproduced with higher risk of lead coil failure in smaller aneurysms. CONCLUSION: Lead coil placement failure is not infrequent during embolization of intracranial aneurysms and may increase the risk of complications. Appropriate coil selection, particularly coil length in small aneurysms, may reduce the rate of lead coil placement failure and associated complications.

Prevalence and clinical characteristics of intracerebral hemorrhages associated with clopidogrel.

BACKGROUND: As clopidogrel is being increasingly used, intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) associated with clopidogrel are expected to increase. We assessed the prevalence and clinical characteristics of of ICH with clopidogrel in a consecutive series of patients in two hospitals. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medication history of 204 patients (112 in one hospital and 92 in another - both individually consecutive) admitted with ICH. We identified the patients who were using clopidogrel prior to ICH occurrence. The etiology of the ICH was categorized on the basis of clinical history and diagnostic imaging, and outcome was subsequently evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 8 (4%) of the 204 patients were using clopidogrel prior to onset of ICH. Clopidogrel was the only medication in 3 patients and was used with aspirin or warfarin in 3 and 2 patients, respectively. Aspirin or warfarin was the only medication in 23 (%) and 14 (%) patients associated with ICH, respectively. The hematoma was located in the basal ganglia (n=2), lobes (n=2), thalamus (n=1), intraventricular (n=2), and cerebellar (n=2). One patient had secondary intraventricular extension. All patients using a combination of clopidogrel and warfarin prior to ICH died. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of ICH associated with clopidogrel is approximating the prevalence of aspirin- or warfarin-associated ICH. The mortality with clopidogrel related ICH appears to be high particularly when in combination with another antithrombotic agent.

The hydration influence on the risk of stroke (THIRST) study.

OBJECTIVE: There is a decreased sensation of thirst and often dehydration among the elderly population. It is unclear whether it represents a contributing factor for cerebral ischemic events. DESIGN: Consecutive patients presenting to a University Hospital within 24 h of symptom onset, and a discharge diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack in the year 2005, were identified. Healthy controls matched to gender, age, and presence of diabetes mellitus were obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2004. Calculated plasma osmolality of patients and healthy controls was compared in groups defined by age; > or =65 years and <65 years, before and after adjustment for possible confounders. Plasma osmolality comparisons were also made between subjects with and without diabetes mellitus or diuretic use. Within the patients group, comparisons were made according to stroke subtypes and time from symptom onset; < or =6 h vs. >6 h. RESULTS: Plasma osmolality of patients > or =65 years was significantly higher than that of matched healthy controls, and the difference remained significant when we adjusted for potential confounders (295.4 vs. 292.3 mOsm/kg, difference 3.1, standard error (SE) 1.13, P = 0.006). Patients taking diuretics had higher plasma osmolality than patients not taking diuretics (296.0 +/- 8.0 vs. 292.4 +/- 8.0 mOsm/kg, P = 0.0026). Among patients, there was no difference between subgroups defined by stroke subtypes or time from symptom onset. CONCLUSIONS: Elderly patients presenting with acute ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack have high plasma osmolality levels, suggestive of volume depletion. This seems to be an early phenomenon and possibly a contributing factor to cerebral ischemia.

Novel therapies in the pipeline: Directions of research into platelet inhibition.

BACKGROUND: Ischemic stroke is one of the foremost causes of death and disability in the industrialized world. Apart from both primary and secondary prevention with oral antiplatelet agents, acute treatment is currently limited to recombinant tissue plasminogen activator and interventional therapy. The occurrence of re-thrombosis during and after these interventions clearly indicate the need for further application of novel agents in the treatment of stroke. PLATELET FUNCTION: Current antiplatelet agents in use affect platelet aggregation at different steps. The common limiting factor is the observed occurrence of intracerebral hemorrhage in the setting of acute stroke. PLATELET INHIBITION: Selective inhibition of glycoproteins has been employed already (GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors) but there are other glycoproteins that can be targeted. This is based on research that shows that monoclonal antibody mediated inhibition decreases the burden of disease in mouse models of stroke. A new drug that targets the A1 domain of activated von Willebrand factor that attaches to GP Ib is potentially another way of solving the thrombosis puzzle with the promise that intracerebral hemorrhage would be limited. CONCLUSION: The continuing search for acceptable levels of platelet inhibition during cerebral ischemic events while minimizing the risk of potentially fatal hemorrhagic side effects is leading the way to selective targeting of the platelet signaling cascade. This raises hope that future therapy will be more effective while having a more favorable safety profile.

Primitive trigeminal artery.

A 29-year-old woman presented with a near-syncopal event, followed by right-sided weakness and numbness as well as dysarthria. The symptoms resolved over several hours. The patient had a history of migraine and cleidocranial dysostosis. Her work-up was negative for stroke and dissection. Computed tomographic angiography (Figure 1, A and B) showed a carotid to basilar artery anastomosis (persistent primitive trigeminal artery). This variant is present in 0.1% to 0.6% of angiograms1. Patients with cleidocranial synostosis may be prone to anomalies of the circle of Willis since they are more likely to harbor cerebral aneurysms (26%).2.