Delayed Cerebral Infarction After Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: Location, Distribution Patterns, Infarct Load, and Effect on Outcome.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) is one of the main contributing factors to poor clinical outcome after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Unsuccessful treatment can cause irreversible brain injury in the form of DCI-related infarction. We aimed to assess the association between the location, distribution, and size of DCI-related infarction in relation to clinical outcome. METHODS: Consecutive patients with SAH treated at 2 university hospitals between 2014 and 2019 (Helsinki, Finland) and between 2006 and 2020 (Aachen, Germany) were included. Size of DCI-related infarction was quantitatively measured as absolute volume (in milliliters). In a semiquantitative fashion, infarction in 14 regions of interest (ROIs) according to a modified Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) was noted. The association of infarction in these ROIs along predefined regions of eloquent brain, with clinical outcome, was assessed. For this purpose, 1-year outcome was measured by the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) and dichotomized into favorable (GOS 4-5) and unfavorable (GOS 1-3). RESULTS: Of 1,190 consecutive patients with SAH, 155 (13%) developed DCI-related infarction. One-year outcome data were available for 148 (96%) patients. A median overall infarct volume of 103 mL (interquartile range 31-237) was measured. DCI-related infarction was significantly associated with 1-year unfavorable outcome (odds ratio [OR] 4.89, 95% CI 3.36-7.34, p < 0.001). In patients with 1-year unfavorable outcome, vascular territories more frequently affected were left middle cerebral artery (affected in 49% of patients with unfavorable outcome vs in 30% of patients with favorable outcome; p = 0.029), as well as left (44% vs 18%; p = 0.003) and right (52% vs 14%; p < 0.001) anterior cerebral artery supply areas. According to the ASPECTS model, the right M3 (OR 8.52, 95% CI 1.41-51.34, p = 0.013) and right A2 (OR 7.84, 95% CI 1.97-31.15, p = 0.003) regions were independently associated with unfavorable outcome. DISCUSSION: DCI-related infarction was associated with a 5-fold increase in the odds of unfavorable outcome, after 1 year. Ischemic lesions in specific anatomical regions are more likely to contribute to unfavorable outcome. TRIAL REGISTRATION INFORMATION: Data collection in Aachen was registered in the German Clinical Trial Register (DRKS00030505); on January 3, 2023.

CT perfusion-guided administration of IV milrinone is associated with a reduction in delayed cerebral infarction after subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) after aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (aSAH) is a singular pathological entity necessitating early diagnostic approaches and both prophylactic and curative interventions. This retrospective before-after study investigates the effects of a management strategy integrating perfusion computed tomography (CTP), vigilant clinical monitoring and standardized systemic administration of milrinone on the occurrence of delayed cerebral infarction (DCIn). The "before" period included 277 patients, and the "after" one 453. There was a higher prevalence of Modified Fisher score III/IV and more frequent diagnosis of vasospasm in the "after" period. Conversely, the occurrence of DCIn was reduced with the "after" management strategy (adjusted OR 0.48, 95% CI [0.26; 0.84]). Notably, delayed ischemic neurologic deficits were less prevalent at the time of vasospasm diagnosis (24 vs 11%, p = 0.001 ), suggesting that CTP facilitated early detection. In patients diagnosed with vasospasm, intravenous milrinone was more frequently administered (80 vs 54%, p < 0.001 ) and associated with superior hemodynamics. The present study from a large cohort of aSAH patients suggests, for one part, the interest of CTP in early diagnosis of vasospasm and DCI, and for the other the efficacy of CT perfusion-guided systemic administration of milrinone in both preventing and treating DCIn.

Exploration of the risk factor for infarction after revascularization in moyamoya disease.

RESULTS: Eventually, 108 consecutive patients received 174 surgeries were enrolled, experienced new or expanded infarction occured in 13 (7.47%) surgeries, which showed higher Suzuki stage on the non-operative side, more posterior cerebral artery (PCA) involvement, and more intraoperative hypotension compared to those without infarction(p < .05). The Suzuki stage on the non-operative side had the highest area under the curve (AUC) of 0.737, with a sensitivity of 0.692 and specificity of 0.783. Combination of the three factors showed better efficiency, with an AUC of 0.762, a sensitivity of 0.692, and a specificity of 0.907. CONCLUSIONS: Revascularization was a safe option for patients with MMD, higher Suzuki stage on the non-operative side, PCA involvement, and intraoperative hypotension might be the risk factors for new or expanded infarction after revascularization in patients with MMD.

Prediction of cerebral infarction after bypass surgery in adult moyamoya disease: using pulsatility index on TCD.

BACKGROUND: At present, the most effective treatment for symptomatic moyamoya disease (MMD) is surgery. However, the high incidence of postoperative complications is a serious problem plaguing the surgical treatment of MMD, especially the acute cerebral infarction. Decreased cerebrovascular reserve is an independent risk factor for ischemic infarction, and the pulsatility index (PI) of transcranial Doppler (TCD) is a common intuitive index for evaluating intracranial vascular compliance. However, the relationship between PI and the occurrence of ischemic stroke after operation is unclear. OBJECTIVE: To explore whether the PI in the middle cerebral artery (MCA) could serve as a potential predictor for the occurrence of ischemic infarction after bypass surgery in MMD. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of data from 71 patients who underwent combined revascularization surgery, including superficial temporal artery-middle cerebral artery (STA-MCA) anastomosis and encephalo-duro-myo-synangiosis (EDMS). The patients were divided into two groups according to the median of ipsilateral MCA-PI before operation, low PI group (MCA-PI < 0.614) and high PI group (MCA-PI ≥ 0.614). Univariate and multivariate regression analysis were used to explore risk factors affecting the occurrence of postoperative cerebral infarction. RESULTS: Among the 71 patients with moyamoya disease, 11 patients had cerebral infarction within one week after revascularization. Among them, 10 patients' ipsilateral MCA-PI were less than 0.614, and another one's MCA- PI is higher than 0.614. Univariate analysis showed that the lower ipsilateral MCA-PI (0.448 ± 0.109 vs. 0.637 ± 0.124; P = 0.001) and higher Suzuki stage (P = 0.025) were linked to postoperative cerebral infarction. Multivariate analysis revealed that lower ipsilateral MCA-PI was an independent risk factor for predicting postoperative cerebral infarction (adjusted OR = 14.063; 95% CI = 6.265 ~ 37.308; P = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS: A lower PI in the ipsilateral MCA may predict the cerebral infarction after combined revascularization surgery with high specificity. And combined revascularization appears to be safer for the moyamoya patients in early stages.

Impact of thyroid hormone replacement therapy on the course and functional outcome of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: Thyroid hormones were reported to exert neuroprotective effects after ischemic stroke by reducing the burden of brain injury and promoting post-ischemic brain remodeling. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to analyze the value of thyroid hormone replacement therapy (THRT) due to pre-existing hypothyroidism on the clinical course and outcome of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). METHODS: SAH individuals treated between January 2003 and June 2016 were included. Data on baseline characteristics of patients and SAH, adverse events and functional outcome of SAH were recorded. Study endpoints were cerebral infarction, in-hospital mortality and unfavorable outcome at 6 months. Associations were adjusted for outcome-relevant confounders. RESULTS: 109 (11%) of 995 individuals had THRT before SAH. Risk of intracranial pressure- or vasospasm-related cerebrovascular events was inversely associated with presence of THRT (p = 0.047). In multivariate analysis, THRT was independently associated with lower risk of cerebral infarction (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.64, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.41-0.99, p = 0.045) and unfavorable outcome (aOR = 0.50, 95% CI = 0.28-0.89, p = 0.018), but not with in-hospital mortality (aOR = 0.69, 95% CI = 0.38-1.26, p = 0.227). CONCLUSION: SAH patients with THRT show lower burden of ischemia-relevant cerebrovascular events and more favorable outcome. Further experimental and clinical studies are required to confirm our results and elaborate the mechanistic background of the effect of THRT on course and outcome of SAH.

Incidence and Risk Factors for New and Recurrent Infarcts in Adults With Sickle Cell Disease.

BACKGROUND: Most adults with sickle cell disease will experience a silent cerebral infarction (SCI) or overt stroke. Identifying patient subgroups with increased stroke incidence is important for future clinical trials focused on stroke prevention. Our 3-center prospective cohort study tested the primary hypothesis that adults with sickle cell disease and SCIs have a greater incidence of new stroke or SCI compared with those without SCI. A secondary aim focused on identifying additional risk factors for progressive infarcts, particularly traditional risk factors for stroke in adults. METHODS AND RESULTS: This observational study included adults with sickle cell disease and no history of stroke. Magnetic resonance imaging scans of the brain completed at baseline and >1 year later were reviewed by 3 radiologists for baseline SCIs and new or progressive infarcts on follow-up magnetic resonance imaging. Stroke risk factors were abstracted from the medical chart. Time-to-event analysis was utilized for progressive infarcts. Median age was 24.1 years; 45.3% of 95 participants had SCIs on baseline magnetic resonance imaging. Progressive infarcts were present in 17 participants (17.9%), and the median follow-up was 2.1 years. Incidence of new infarcts was 11.95 per 100 patient-years (6.17-20.88) versus 3.74 per 100 patient-years (1.21-8.73) in those with versus without prior SCI. Multivariable Cox regression showed that baseline SCI predicts progressive infarcts (hazard ratio, 3.46 [95% CI, 1.05-11.39]; P=0.041); baseline hypertension was also associated with progressive infarcts (hazard ratio, 3.23 [95% CI, 1.16-9.51]; P=0.025). CONCLUSIONS: Selecting individuals with SCIs and hypertension for stroke prevention trials in sickle cell disease may enrich the study population with those at highest risk for infarct recurrence.

Placement of Endovascular Stent for Reperfusion of Cerebral Infarct After Pediatric Traumatic Internal Carotid Artery Dissection.

Background: Traumatic intracranial ICA dissections are not commonly seen in children. Dissection resulting in perfusion deficit warrants intervention. Here we encountered a patient who experienced traumatic ICA dissection, treated by endovascular stenting. Methods: A 10-year-old female presented with aphasia and right sided weakness following trauma. Imaging showed deficit in the left MCA territory without core. Further imaging showed dissection of the left supraclinoid ICA, confirmed by digital subtraction angiography. Results: A Neuroform Atlas stent was placed without complication. All dysarthria and weakness had resolved on follow-up 5 months post-stenting. Conclusions: Acute stroke symptoms in children can result in lasting deficits if not treated quickly. Medical management is regarded to be first line, depending on presentation. Endovascular stenting may provide a promising means to treat pediatric ICA dissections involving perfusion deficits and mitigate permanent ischemic changes.

Prevalence and Radiographic Characteristics of Cerebral Infarction after Surgery in Patients with Glioma: A Retrospective Study.

AIM: The aim of our study was to analyze risk factors for postoperative cerebral infarction in patients with glioma in our hospital, and to compare medical imaging techniques for early diagnosis of postoperative cerebral infarction. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 178 patients (male: 78, female: 100) who underwent glioma surgery at our hospital between May 2015 and October 2023. They were divided into two groups based on the presence of postoperative cerebral infarction within 7 days: the cerebral infarction group (n = 85) and the non-cerebral infarction group (n = 93). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to assess the location, distribution, and volume of the tumor before surgery. During the perioperative period, patient postoperative time, intraoperative blood loss, and other relevant data were documented. Computed tomography perfusion (CTP) and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) imaging techniques were employed to evaluate the occurrence, area, location, and shape of cerebral infarction. The imaging characteristics of postoperative cerebral infarction were noted. Apparent diffusion coefficient values, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of whole-brain CTP parameters, cerebral blood flow (CBF), cerebral blood volume (CBV), time to peak (TTP), mean transit time (MTT), and DWI parameters were measured. The sensitivity and specificity of CTP, DWI, and their combined diagnosis for postoperative cerebral infarction were compared, with consistency assessed using the Kappa value. RESULTS: This study found that 85 patients (47.8%) experienced postoperative cerebral infarction. Significant risk factors included tumor location in the temporal lobe, tumor volume ≥23.57 cm3, number of surgeries >1, World Health Organization (WHO) grade >3, and intraoperative blood loss >79.83 mL (p < 0.05). Imaging examinations revealed that CTP combined with DWI diagnosis detected cerebral infarctions in 84 patients, showing lower CBF and CBV, and higher TTP, and MTT in the infarct group (p < 0.05). The Kappa values for CTP, DWI, and the combined diagnosis were 0.762, 0.833, and 0.937, respectively (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of cerebral infarction in patients with glioma is high and is affected by many factors. Timely imaging examination can detect and predict the occurrence of cerebral infarction in patients after surgery, which is of great significance for improving the prognosis of patients.

[Giant Post-infarction Left Ventricular Pseudoaneurysm Diagnosed Soon After the Onset of Cerebral Infarction:Report of a Case].

A 59-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with left hemiplegia. A computed tomography( CT) scan and echocardiography revealed a cerebral infarction in the right middle cerebral artery's territory, as well as a large pseudoaneurysm (4×3 cm) of the lateral left ventricular wall. The patient agreed to undergo cardiac surgery because of the high risk of rupture and recurrent cerebral infarctions. Owing to the high probability of damaging the posterior papillary muscle and coronary arteries, an extracardiac approach was used, and the pseudoaneurysm cavity was closed using double-patch repair. The patient was discharged from the hospital on the 12th postoperative day without any complications. Both postoperative CT and echocardiography showed closure of the cavity.

Imaging and blood flow characteristics of cerebrovascular fenestration malformation and its relationship with the occurrence of ischemic cerebrovascular disease.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the imaging and transcranial Doppler cerebral blood flow characteristics of cerebrovascular fenestration malformation and its relationship with the occurrence of ischemic cerebrovascular disease. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the imaging data of 194 patients with cerebrovascular fenestration malformation who visited the Heyuan People's Hospital from July 2021 to July 2023. The location and morphology of the fenestration malformation blood vessels as well as the presence of other cerebrovascular diseases were analyzed. Transcranial Doppler cerebral blood flow detection data of patients with cerebral infarction and those with basilar artery fenestration malformation were also analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 194 patients with cerebral vascular fenestration malformation were found. Among the artery fenestration malformation, basilar artery fenestration was the most common, accounting for 46.08% (94/194). 61 patients (31.44%) had other vascular malformations, 97 patients (50%) had cerebral infarction, of which 30 were cerebral infarction in the fenestrated artery supply area. 28 patients with cerebral infarction in the fenestrated artery supply area received standardized antiplatelet, lipid-lowering and plaque-stabilizing medication treatment. During the follow-up period, these patients did not experience any symptoms of cerebral infarction or transient ischemic attack again. There were no differences in peak systolic flow velocity and end diastolic flow velocity, pulsatility index and resistance index between the ischemic stroke group and the no ischemic stroke group in patients with basal artery fenestration malformation (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Cerebrovascular fenestration malformation is most common in the basilar artery. Cerebrovascular fenestration malformation may also be associated with other cerebrovascular malformations. Standardized antiplatelet and statin lipid-lowering and plaque-stabilizing drugs are suitable for patients with cerebral infarction complicated with fenestration malformation. The relationship between cerebral blood flow changes in basilar artery fenestration malformation and the occurrence of ischemic stroke may not be significant.

Distribution of Silent Cerebral Infarcts in Adults With Sickle Cell Disease.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Previously we demonstrated that 90% of infarcts in children with sickle cell anemia occur in the border zone regions of cerebral blood flow (CBF). We tested the hypothesis that adults with sickle cell disease (SCD) have silent cerebral infarcts (SCIs) in the border zone regions, with a secondary hypothesis that older age and traditional stroke risk factors would be associated with infarct occurrence in regions outside the border zones. METHODS: Adults with SCD 18-50 years of age were enrolled in a cross-sectional study at 2 centers and completed a 3T brain MRI. Participants with a history of overt stroke were excluded. Infarct masks were manually delineated on T2-fluid-attenuated inversion-recovery MRI and registered to the Montreal Neurological Institute 152 brain atlas to generate an infarct heatmap. Border zone regions between anterior, middle, and posterior cerebral arteries (ACA, MCA, and PCA) were quantified using the Digital 3D Brain MRI Arterial Territories Atlas, and logistic regression was applied to identify relationships between infarct distribution, demographics, and stroke risk factors. RESULTS: Of 113 participants with SCD (median age 26.1 years, interquartile range [IQR] 21.6-31.4 years, 51% male), 56 (49.6%) had SCIs. Participants had a median of 5.5 infarcts (IQR 3.2-13.8). Analysis of infarct distribution showed that 350 of 644 infarcts (54.3%) were in 4 border zones of CBF and 294 (45.6%) were in non-border zone territories. More than 90% of infarcts were in 3 regions: the non-border zone ACA and MCA territories and the ACA-MCA border zone. Logistic regression showed that older participants have an increased chance of infarcts in the MCA territory (odds ratio [OR] 1.08; 95% CI 1.03-1.13; p = 0.001) and a decreased chance of infarcts in the ACA-MCA border zone (OR 0.94; 95% CI 0.90-0.97; p < 0.001). The presence of at least 1 stroke risk factor did not predict SCI location in any model. DISCUSSION: When compared with children with SCD, in adults with SCD, older age is associated with expanded zones of tissue infarction that stretch beyond the traditional border zones of CBF, with more than 45% of infarcts in non-border zone regions.

Application of interpretable machine learning algorithms to predict acute kidney injury in patients with cerebral infarction in ICU.

BACKGROUND: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is not only a complication but also a serious threat to patients with cerebral infarction (CI). This study aimed to explore the application of interpretable machine learning algorithms in predicting AKI in patients with cerebral infarction. METHODS: The study included 3920 patients with CI admitted to the Intensive Care Unit and Emergency Medicine of the Central Hospital of Lishui City, Zhejiang Province. Nine machine learning techniques, including XGBoost, logistics, LightGBM, random forest (RF), AdaBoost, GaussianNB (GNB), Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP), support vector machine (SVM), and k-nearest neighbors (KNN) classification, were used to develop a predictive model for AKI in these patients. SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) analysis provided visual explanations for each patient. Finally, model effectiveness was assessed using metrics such as average precision (AP), sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, F1 score, precision-recall (PR) curve, calibration plot, and decision curve analysis (DCA). RESULTS: The XGBoost model performed better in the internal validation set and the external validation set, with an AUC of 0.940 and 0.887, respectively. The five most important variables in the model were, in order, glomerular filtration rate, low-density lipoprotein, total cholesterol, hemiplegia and serum kalium. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the potential of interpretable machine learning algorithms in predicting CI patients with AKI.

Case report: unprecedented case of infantile cerebral infarction following COVID-19 and favorable outcome.

The 2019 novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, was highly prevalent in China as of December 2022, causing a range of symptoms, predominantly affecting the respiratory tract. While SARS-CoV-2 infection in children is generally mild, severe cases, especially in infants, are rare. We present a case of a previously healthy 7-month-old infant who developed cerebral infarction and coagulation dysfunction three days after COVID-19 onset. Clinically, the infant had weakness in the left limbs and pinpoint bleeding spots. A cranial magnetic resonance imaging showed ischemic strokes in the right basal ganglia and thalamus. Laboratory tests indicated thrombocytopenia and coagulation dysfunction. Inflammatory cytokines like interleukin-10 were elevated, with increased CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ T lymphocytes but decreased CD3- CD16+ CD56+ natural killer cells. Treatment included mannitol, dexamethasone, oral aspirin, and vitamins B1 and B6 for reducing intracranial pressure, antiinflammation, anticoagulation, and nerve support, respectively. During the recovery phase, rehabilitation therapy focused on strength training, fine motor skills, and massage therapy. The infant gradually improved and successfully recovered. While rare, such cases can lead to severe complications. These combined efforts were instrumental in achieving significant functional recovery in the patient, demonstrating that even in severe instances of pediatric cerebral infarction due to COVID-19, positive outcomes are attainable with early and comprehensive medical response.

An Explainable Artificial Intelligence Model to Predict Malignant Cerebral Edema after Acute Anterior Circulating Large-Hemisphere Infarction.

INTRODUCTION: Malignant cerebral edema (MCE) is a serious complication and the main cause of poor prognosis in patients with large-hemisphere infarction (LHI). Therefore, the rapid and accurate identification of potential patients with MCE is essential for timely therapy. This study utilized an artificial intelligence-based machine learning approach to establish an interpretable model for predicting MCE in patients with LHI. METHODS: This study included 314 patients with LHI not undergoing recanalization therapy. The patients were divided into MCE and non-MCE groups, and the eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) model was developed. A confusion matrix was used to measure the prediction performance of the XGBoost model. We also utilized the SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) method to explain the XGBoost model. Decision curve and receiver operating characteristic curve analyses were performed to evaluate the net benefits of the model. RESULTS: MCE was observed in 121 (38.5%) of the 314 patients with LHI. The model showed excellent predictive performance, with an area under the curve of 0.916. The SHAP method revealed the top 10 predictive variables of the MCE such as ASPECTS score, NIHSS score, CS score, APACHE II score, HbA1c, AF, NLR, PLT, GCS, and age based on their importance ranking. CONCLUSION: An interpretable predictive model can increase transparency and help doctors accurately predict the occurrence of MCE in LHI patients not undergoing recanalization therapy within 48 h of onset, providing patients with better treatment strategies and enabling optimal resource allocation.

A Case of Gallbladder Cancer with Trousseau Syndrome Successfully Treated Using Radical Resection.

Trousseau syndrome is characterized by cancer-associated systemic thrombosis. We describe the first case of a successfully treated gallbladder adenocarcinoma accompanied by Trousseau syndrome. A 66-year-old woman presented with right hemiplegia. Magnetic resonance imaging identified multiple cerebral infarctions. Her serum carbohydrate antigen 19-9 and D-dimer levels were markedly elevated, and a gallbladder tumor was detected via abdominal computed tomography. Venous ultrasonography of the lower limbs revealed a deep venous thrombus in the right peroneal vein. These findings suggested that the brain infarctions were likely caused by Trousseau syndrome associated with her gallbladder cancer. Radical resection of the gallbladder tumor was performed. The resected gallbladder was filled with mucus and was pathologically diagnosed as an adenocarcinoma. Her postoperative course was uneventful, and she received a one-year course of adjuvant therapy with oral S-1. No cancer recurrence or thrombosis was noted 26 months postoperatively. Despite concurrent Trousseau syndrome, a radical cure of the primary tumor and thrombosis could be achieved with the appropriate treatment.