Risk of Early Bleeding with Dual Antiplatelet Therapy in Acute Stroke and Transient Ischemic Attack Regardless of NIHSS Admission.

BACKGROUND: Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAT) is a therapeutic option for patients with minor ischemic stroke (IS) or transient ischemic attack (TIA). No study has evaluated the incidence of early bleeding in patients with moderate to major ischemic stroke. The current study aimed to analyze both the frequency of early bleeding and hospital morbidity related to DAT for either acute IS or TIA regardless of admission National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score. METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis based on data collected from a prospective data bank of a single center. We included patients who underwent DAT in the first 24 hours of symptom onset with a loading dose (aspirin 300 mg + clopidogrel 300 mg) on the first day, followed by a maintenance dose (aspirin 100 mg + clopidogrel 75 mg). We analyzed intracranial and/or extracranial hemorrhage that had occurred during the hospital admission, symptomatic bleeding, modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score at discharge, and death rates as outcomes. RESULTS: Of the 119 patients analyzed, 94 (79 %) had IS and 25 (21 %) had TIA. Hemorrhage occurred in 11 (9.2 %) and four (3.4 %) patients with TIA or NIHSS ≤ 3, respectively, although none were symptomatic. Patients with bleeding as a complication had higher admission NIHSS [4 (3-7) vs. 2 (1-4), p = 0.044] and had higher mRS at discharge (mRS 2 [1-5] vs. mRS 1 [0-2], p = 0.008). These findings did not indicate increased mortality, as one (9 %) patient died from bleeding and two (1.8 %) patients died without bleeding (p = 0.254). CONCLUSION: DAT seems to be a safe therapy in patients regardless of admission NIHSS if started within the first 24 h after symptom onset because only 1.6 % of patients had symptomatic bleeding.

Neurological complications of heart failure.

Heart failure (HF) is a major global cause of death with increasing absolute worldwide numbers of HF patients. HF results from the interaction between cardiovascular aging with specific risk factors, comorbidities, and disease modifiers. The failing heart and neuronal injury have a bidirectional interaction requiring specific management strategies. Decreased cardiac output has been associated with lower brain volumes. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) may normalize following heart transplantation among severe HF patients. Stroke and cognitive impairment remain the main neurologic conditions associated with HF. However, HF patients may also suffer from chronic cerebral hypoperfusion. It seems likely that HF-related ischemic strokes are primarily the result of cardiac embolism. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is present in half of stroke patient with HF. The increased risk of hemorrhagic strokes is less well characterized and likely multifactorial, but may in part reflect a higher use of long-term antithrombotic therapy. The steady improvement of neuroimaging techniques has demonstrated an increased prevalence of silent ischemic lesions among HF patients. The populations most likely to benefit from long-term anticoagulant therapy are HF patients with AF. Cognitive impairment in HF can have a variety of clinical manifestations from mild memory problems to dementia.

Current uses of intracranial vessel wall imaging for clinical practice: a high-resolution MR technique recently available.

Intracranial vessel wall imaging plays an increasing role in diagnosing intracranial vascular diseases. With the growing demand and subsequent increased use of this technique in clinical practice, radiologists and neurologists should be aware of the choices in imaging parameters and how they affect image quality, clinical indications, methods of assessment, and limitations in the interpretation of these images. Due to the improvement of the MRI techniques, the possibility of accurate and direct evaluation of the abnormalities in the arterial vascular wall (vessel wall imaging) has evolved, adding substantial data to diagnosis when compared to the indirect evaluation based on conventional flow analyses. Herein, the authors proposed a comprehensive approach of this technique reinforcing appropriated clinical settings to better use intracranial vessel wall imaging.

Current uses of intracranial vessel wall imaging for clinical practice: a high-resolution MR technique recently available / Usos atuais do estudo de parede vascular intracraniana na prática clínica: uma técnica de RM de alta resolução recentemente disponível

ABSTRACT Intracranial vessel wall imaging plays an increasing role in diagnosing intracranial vascular diseases. With the growing demand and subsequent increased use of this technique in clinical practice, radiologists and neurologists should be aware of the choices in imaging parameters and how they affect image quality, clinical indications, methods of assessment, and limitations in the interpretation of these images. Due to the improvement of the MRI techniques, the possibility of accurate and direct evaluation of the abnormalities in the arterial vascular wall (vessel wall imaging) has evolved, adding substantial data to diagnosis when compared to the indirect evaluation based on conventional flow analyses. Herein, the authors proposed a comprehensive approach of this technique reinforcing appropriated clinical settings to better use intracranial vessel wall imaging.

RESUMO O estudo angiográfico intracraniano não invasivo está sendo amplamente utilizado no diagnóstico de doenças vasculares intracranianas. Com a crescente demanda e o aumento subsequente do uso dessa técnica na prática clínica, radiologistas e neurologistas devem estar cientes das opções nos parâmetros de imagem e como estes afetam a qualidade da imagem, as indicações clínicas, os métodos de avaliação e as limitações na interpretação dessas imagens. Devido ao aprimoramento das técnicas de imagem por RM, a possibilidade de avaliação precisa e direta das anormalidades na parede vascular arterial (vessel wall imaging) evoluiu, agregando dados substanciais ao diagnóstico quando comparados à avaliação indireta baseada em análises de fluxo convencionais. Neste artigo, os autores discorrem sobre a avaliação e interpretação dos achados de imagem desta nova técnica e suas aplicações clínicas.

Evaluation of cerebral autoregulation performance in patients with arterial hypertension on drug treatment.

Cerebral autoregulation (AR) keeps cerebral blood flow constant despite fluctuations in systemic arterial pressure. The final common AR pathway is made up of vasomotor adjustments of cerebrovascular resistance mediated by arterioles. Structural and functional changes in the arteriolar wall arise with age and systemic arterial hypertension. This study evaluated whether AR is impaired in hypertensive patients and whether this impairment differs with disease control. Three groups of patients were prospectively compared: hypertensive patients under treatment with systolic blood pressure (SBP) <140 and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) <90 mm Hg (n = 54), hypertensive patients under treatment with SBP > 140 or DBP > 90 mm Hg (n = 31), and normotensive volunteers (n = 30). Simultaneous measurements of cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV) and BP were obtained by digital plethysmography and transcranial Doppler, and the AR index (ARI) was defined according to the step response to spontaneous fluctuations in BP. Compared to the uncontrolled hypertension, the normotensive individuals were younger (age 43.42 ± 11.14, P < .05) and had a lower resistance-area product (1.17 ± 0.24, P < .05), although age and greater arteriolar stiffness did not affect the CBFV mean of hypertensive patients, whether controlled or uncontrolled (62.85 × 58.49 × 58.30 cm/s, P = .29), most likely because their ARIs were not compromised (5.54 × 5.91 × 5.88, P = .6). Hypertensive patients under treatment, regardless of their BP control, have intact AR capacity.

Otimizando a reperfusão na fase aguda do AVCI: um convite aos cardiologistas / Optimizing reperfusion in the acute phase of stroke: an invitation to cardiologists

Trombólise IV é o tratamento de escolha para pacientes com AVCI agudo. O NNT para evitar incapacidade funcional varia de 3 a 14, dependendo do tempo entre o início dos sintomas e a infusão do trombolítico. Entretanto, a janela de oportunidade para tratamento é de apenas 4 horas e 30 minutos. Nosso objetivo é apresentar a estratégia adotada em um centro cardiológico terciário que levou à otimização da reperfusao cerebral com trombolítico IV realizada por cardiologistas. A ação principal tomada foi o desenvolvimento do protocolo de sequência rápida da reperfusao cerebral. Os pontos chaves do protocolo foram: triagem imediata e encaminhamento direto para tomografia com infusão do trombolítico com o paciente na mesa de exame, treinamentos no manejo da fase aguda e na interpretação rápida da tomografia, suporte neurológico à distância nos casos com dúvidas na interpretação da imagem ou contraindicações, ampliação do horário da tomografia para 24x7 e disponibilização do trombolítico na farmácia satélite do pronto socorro. Com essas ações o número de pacientes trombolisados saltou de 4 em 2017 para 15 em 2018, um aumento de 375%. A taxa de trombólise foi de 3,2% em 2017 e 16,3% em 2018 (aumento de 5 vezes) Dos pacientes trombolisados, 60% apresentavam melhora clínica com base no critério "respondedor". A união de forças entre cardiologistas e neurologistas, na fase aguda do AVCI ampliou o percentual de pacientes beneficiados com tratamento trombolítico em nosso hospital. Essa experiência pode ser replicada através das Sociedades de Cardiologia. (AU)

Mulher jovem com IAM: é tempo de pensarmos além dos fatores de risco cardiovascular convencionais / Young woman with AMI: time to think beyond conventional cardiovascular risk factors

Estudos recentes consideram a depressão como um fator de risco cardiovascular modificável independente para IAM. Nosso objetivo é relatar o caso de uma paciente jovem com IAM que apresentava depressão e ansiedade moderadas até então pouco valorizadas. Paciente do sexo feminino, 44 anos com HAS leve admitida com IAM com supra de ST no território da coronária direita. Recebeu terapia trombolítica, 2 horas após início da dor torácica, evoluindo com critérios de reperfusão miocárdica. Na investigação complementar apresentou CATE normal e ressonância cardíaca com infarto transmural. Medicada com antiagregante plaquetário, estatina e anti-hipertensivo. Durante as orientações de alta o neurologista levantou a hipótese de ansiedade e depressão como fatores de risco adicionais. Para confirmar essa hipótese foi solicitada avaliação psicológica. Na anamnese psíquica a paciente referiu situação familiar instável com marido esquizofrênico e filho usuário de drogas. Durante o exame psíquico pôde-se evidenciar tristeza e impotência frente à situação familiar prévia ao IAM. Aplicada Escala de Hamilton que foi compatível com ansiedade e depressão moderadas. A avaliação com os critérios de estresse crônico e depressão validados no estudo INTERHEART evidenciou aspectos depressivos relacionados com perda de interesse e prazer nas atividades, dificuldade de concentração, desmotivação e falta de energia. Recebeu alta com desvenlafaxina 50 mg e acompanhamento psicológico. Nas avaliações psicológicas de 30 e 60 dias apresentou sinais de melhora emocional. Depressão foi um dos 10 fatores de risco cardiovascular modificáveis mais importantes para IAM no estudo INTERHEART. Uma subanálise desse estudo sugeriu que fatores estressantes no lar foram 2.12 vezes mais comuns em pacientes com IAM, quando comparados ao grupo controle. Entretanto, a maioria dos pacientes com IAM não possuem avaliação psicológica durante a internação e médicos, geralmente, não são treinados para a investigação e manejo dos aspectos emocionais nos pacientes com doenças cardiovasculares. Nosso relato de caso visa despertar a importância do trabalho conjunto de médicos e psicólogos no atendimento dos pacientes com urgências e emergências cardiovasculares. (AU)

Impact of hypertension severity on arterial stiffness, cerebral vasoreactivity, and cognitive performance / Impacto da gravidade da hipertensão na rigidez arterial, vasorreatividade cerebral e desempenho cognitivo

ABSTRACT. Aging, hypertension (HTN), and other cardiovascular risk factors contribute to structural and functional changes of the arterial wall. Objective: To evaluate whether arterial stiffness (AS) is related to cerebral blood flow changes and its association with cognitive function in patients with hypertension. Methods: 211 patients (69 normotensive and 142 hypertensive) were included. Patients with hypertension were divided into 2 stages: HTN stage-1 and HTN stage-2. The mini-mental state examination (MMSE), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and a battery of neuropsychological (NPE) tests were used to determine cognitive function. Pulse wave velocity was measured using the Complior®. Carotid properties were assessed by radiofrequency ultrasound. Central arterial pressure and augmentation index were obtained using applanation tonometry. Middle cerebral artery flow velocity was measured by transcranial Doppler ultrasonography. Results: Both arterial stiffness parameters and cerebral vasoreactivity worsened in line with HTN severity. There was a negative correlation between breath holding index (BHI) and arterial stiffness parameters. Cognitive performance worsened in line with HTN severity, with statistical difference occurring mainly between the HTN-2 and normotension groups on both the MMSE and MoCA. The same tendency was observed on the NPE tests. Conclusion: Hypertension severity was associated with higher AS, worse BHI, and lower cognitive performance.

RESUMO. A idade, hipertensão arterial (HA), e outros fatores de risco cardiovascular contribuem para as alterações estruturais e funcionais da parede arterial. Objetivo: Avaliar o quanto a rigidez arterial está relacionada com as alterações do fluxo sanguíneo cerebral e sua associação com a função cognitiva em pacientes com hipertensão. Métodos: Foram incluídos 211 pacientes (69 normotensos e 142 hipertensos). Os pacientes com hipertensão foram divididos em dois estágios: HA-1 e HA-2. O mini exame do estado mental (MEEM), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) e uma bateria de testes neuropsicológicos foram usados para avaliar a função cognitiva. A velocidade da onda de pulso foi medida usando o Complior®. As propriedades da artéria carótida foram avaliadas usando o ultrassom de radiofrequência. A pressão arterial central e o índice de incremento foram obtidos usando a tonometria de aplanação. A velocidade de fluxo sanguíneo da arterial cerebral média foi medida pelo ultrassom com Doppler Transcraniano. Resultados: Tanto os parâmetros da rigidez arterial quanto a vasorreatividade cerebral foram piores com a gravidade da hipertensão. Houve uma correlação negativa entre o índice de apnéia e os parâmetros da rigidez arterial. O desempenho cognitivo foi pior com a gravidade de hipertensão arterial com diferença estatística ocorrendo principalmente entre os grupos HA-2 e normotensão tanto no MEEM quanto no MoCA. A mesma tendência foi observada em relação aos testes neuropsicológicos. Conclusão: A gravidade de hipertensão arterial foi associada com maior rigidez arterial, pior índice de apneia, e menor desempenho cognitivo.

Impact of hypertension severity on arterial stiffness, cerebral vasoreactivity, and cognitive performance.

Aging, hypertension (HTN), and other cardiovascular risk factors contribute to structural and functional changes of the arterial wall. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether arterial stiffness (AS) is related to cerebral blood flow changes and its association with cognitive function in patients with hypertension. METHODS: 211 patients (69 normotensive and 142 hypertensive) were included. Patients with hypertension were divided into 2 stages: HTN stage-1 and HTN stage-2. The mini-mental state examination (MMSE), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and a battery of neuropsychological (NPE) tests were used to determine cognitive function. Pulse wave velocity was measured using the Complior®. Carotid properties were assessed by radiofrequency ultrasound. Central arterial pressure and augmentation index were obtained using applanation tonometry. Middle cerebral artery flow velocity was measured by transcranial Doppler ultrasonography. RESULTS: Both arterial stiffness parameters and cerebral vasoreactivity worsened in line with HTN severity. There was a negative correlation between breath holding index (BHI) and arterial stiffness parameters. Cognitive performance worsened in line with HTN severity, with statistical difference occurring mainly between the HTN-2 and normotension groups on both the MMSE and MoCA. The same tendency was observed on the NPE tests. CONCLUSION: Hypertension severity was associated with higher AS, worse BHI, and lower cognitive performance.

A idade, hipertensão arterial (HA), e outros fatores de risco cardiovascular contribuem para as alterações estruturais e funcionais da parede arterial. OBJETIVO: Avaliar o quanto a rigidez arterial está relacionada com as alterações do fluxo sanguíneo cerebral e sua associação com a função cognitiva em pacientes com hipertensão. MÉTODOS: Foram incluídos 211 pacientes (69 normotensos e 142 hipertensos). Os pacientes com hipertensão foram divididos em dois estágios: HA-1 e HA-2. O mini exame do estado mental (MEEM), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) e uma bateria de testes neuropsicológicos foram usados para avaliar a função cognitiva. A velocidade da onda de pulso foi medida usando o Complior®. As propriedades da artéria carótida foram avaliadas usando o ultrassom de radiofrequência. A pressão arterial central e o índice de incremento foram obtidos usando a tonometria de aplanação. A velocidade de fluxo sanguíneo da arterial cerebral média foi medida pelo ultrassom com Doppler Transcraniano. RESULTADOS: Tanto os parâmetros da rigidez arterial quanto a vasorreatividade cerebral foram piores com a gravidade da hipertensão. Houve uma correlação negativa entre o índice de apnéia e os parâmetros da rigidez arterial. O desempenho cognitivo foi pior com a gravidade de hipertensão arterial com diferença estatística ocorrendo principalmente entre os grupos HA-2 e normotensão tanto no MEEM quanto no MoCA. A mesma tendência foi observada em relação aos testes neuropsicológicos. CONCLUSÃO: A gravidade de hipertensão arterial foi associada com maior rigidez arterial, pior índice de apneia, e menor desempenho cognitivo.

Evaluation of body temperature in individuals with stroke.

BACKGROUND: A stroke can cause alterations in thermal sensitivity. OBJECTIVE: to verify the conditions of body temperature in hemiplegic patients after stroke as compared to healthy individuals, as well as establish relations between thermal sensitivity and gender, age, Body Mass Index (BMI), plegic side, time after stroke, reports of thermal alterations and the motricity of patients with stroke sequelae. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 100 patients (55.6±13 years) with ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke sequelae with unilateral hemiparesis and thirty healthy subjects (55±12.9 years). Individuals with nervous peripheral lesions, diabetes, peripheral vascular diseases or tumors were not included in this study. The volunteers underwent axillary temperature evaluations with the use of a cutaneous thermometer and evaluations of cutaneous temperature of hands and feet as measured by infrared thermography captured by an infrared sensor (ThermaCAMTM SC 500-FLIR Systems). The mean temperature (°C) was analyzed with the SigmaStat 3.5 statistical package. RESULTS: The results have shown that healthy individuals have similar temperatures on either side of the body. The hemiplegic subjects presented a lower temperature on the plegic side and compared to the healthy subjects, both feet of the hemiparetic individuals were colder. The results have also shown that age, body mass index, and the time after stroke have no influence on the alterations in temperature. Regarding the paretic side, individuals with hemiplegia on the right side (right foot) had a lower temperature than those affected on the left side. Motricity was not related to any difference in temperature between the limbs and the reports of temperature differences had no relation with the actual differences found in the study. CONCLUSIONS: Healthy individuals have temperature symmetry between between sides of the body, while individuals with stroke sequelae present lower temperature in the paretic side, especially on their feet.

Posterior Circulation Evaluation in Patients with Sickle Cell Anemia.

BACKGROUND: The role of transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasonography in identifying children with sickle cell anemia (SCA) at risk for stroke is well known; however, the major studies that evaluated TCD velocities in children with SCA did not report posterior circulation evaluation data. The objective of our study was to describe the pattern of blood flow velocities in the posterior circulation of patients with SCA and to examine their relationship with findings on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)/magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). METHODS: All adult patients with SCA followed in the outpatient clinic of our hospital were evaluated with TCD and MRI/MRA. The highest velocities of the middle cerebral arteries or internal carotid arteries were taken as the time-averaged maximum mean (TAMM) velocity for each patient and the maximum mean flow velocities in the posterior circulation (TAMMpost) were recorded. RESULTS: Fifty-six patients with SCA and 56 healthy nonanemic volunteers were evaluated. The mean TAMMpost in the basilar, vertebral, and posterior cerebral arteries (PCAs) were significantly higher among cases than controls (P < .01). In patients with SCA, the TAMMpost in all posterior circulation arteries had a positive correlation with TAMM. Only 1 patient with stenosis in the posterior circulation (right PCA) was identified. CONCLUSION: We found a low frequency of stenosis but high blood flow velocities in the posterior circulation in patients with SCA. The role of increased TCD velocities in the posterior circulation upon stroke risk in patients with SCA should be further examined.

Non-motor Factors Associated with the Attainment of Community Ambulation after Stroke.

OBJECTIVE: Detect the main predictive non-motor factors related to independent community ambulation after stroke. Furthermore, we propose a scale to estimate the probability of a stroke patient achieving independent community ambulation after 6 months of rehabilitation. DESIGN AND SETTINGS: Prospective cohort. Subjects treated in a rehabilitation center in a large metropolitan area. Independent community ambulation was evaluated after rehabilitation according to the Hoffer classification. Functional ambulation was assessed at four levels: nonambulatory, nonfunctional ambulation, household ambulation, and community ambulation. PARTICIPANTS: Patients (n=201) with a moderate disability after stroke. RESULTS: The average time of hospitalization was 19.3 days. However, only 32.8% of the patients started the rehabilitation program during the first 6 months after stroke. We found that 121 patients achieved community ambulation (60.2%), 40 achieved household ambulation (19.9%), 12 achieved therapeutic ambulation (5.9%), and 28 were non-ambulatory after 6 months of treatment. Based on our final model, a scoring scale was created in order to evaluate the probability of stroke patients achieving independent community ambulation after 6 months of rehabilitation. Higher scores were associated with better chances of community ambulation within 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: The scale that evaluated these factors proved to have acceptable sensitivity and specificity to establish the prognosis of community ambulation after 6 months of rehabilitation.

Treatment of vascular dementia. Recommendations of the Scientific Department of Cognitive Neurology and Aging of the Brazilian Academy of Neurology / Tratamento da demência vascular. Recomendações do Departamento Científico de Neurologia Cognitiva e do Envelhecimento da Academia Brasileira de Neurologia

Scientific Department of Cognitive Neurology and Aging of ABN had a consensus meeting to write recommendations on treatment of vascular dementia, there was no previous issue. This disease has numerous particularities and can be considered a preventable dementia. Prevention treatment is primary care of vascular risk factors or a secondary prevention of factors that could cause recurrence of ischemic or hemorrhagic brain modifications. In these guidelines we suggested only symptomatic treatment, pharmacologic or non-pharmacologic. We have reviewed current publications on MEDLINE (PubMed), LILACS e Cochrane Library databases. Recommendations are concern to the following factors and their prevention evidences, association, or treatment of vascular dementia: physical activity, tobacco use, diet and food supplements, arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, obesity, statins, cardiac failure, atrial fibrillation, antithrombotics, sleep apnea, carotid revascularization, symptomatic pharmacological treatment.

O DC de Neurologia Cognitiva e do Envelhecimento da ABN reuniu-se para escrever recomendações para o tratamento da demência vascular, uma vez que não havia nenhuma recomendação neste sentido. Esta doença tem inúmeras particularidades e pode ser considerada uma das demências que pode ser prevenida. O tratamento para sua prevenção é o de cuidados primários para os fatores de risco vasculares, ou a prevenção secundária dos fatores que levam a recorrência de alterações isquêmicas ou hemorrágicas cerebrais. Nestas recomendações sugerimos apenas o tratamento sintomático, medicamentoso ou não. Baseamo-nos nas evidências disponíveis, através da revisão das publicações nas bases MEDLINE (PubMed), LILACS e Cochrane Library. As recomendações dizem respeito aos seguintes fatores e suas evidências na prevenção, associação ou tratamento da demência vascular: atividade física, álcool, tabagismo, dieta e suplementos, hipertensão arterial, diabetes mellitus, obesidade, estatinas, insuficiência cardíaca, fibrilação atrial, antiagregantes, apneia do sono, revascularização carotídea e tratamento farmacológico sintomático.

Tratamento da demência vascular / Treatment of vascular dementia

O DC de Neurologia Cognitiva e do Envelhecimento da ABN reuniu-se para escrever recomendações para o tratamento da demência vascular, uma vez que não havia nenhuma recomendação neste sentido. Esta doença tem inúmeras particularidades e pode ser considerada uma das demências que pode ser prevenida. O tratamento para sua prevenção é o de cuidados primários para os fatores de risco vasculares, ou a prevenção secundária dos fatores que levam a recorrência de alterações isquêmicas ou hemorrágicas cerebrais. Nestas recomendações sugerimos apenas o tratamento sintomático, medicamentoso ou não. Baseamo-nos nas evidências disponíveis, através da revisão das publicações nas bases MEDLINE (PubMed), LILACS e Cochrane Library. Foram analisados artigos relacionados exclusivamente à demência vascular. As recomendações dizem respeito aos seguintes fatores e suas evidências na prevenção, associação ou tratamento da demência vascular: atividade física, álcool, tabagismo, dieta e suplementos, hipertensão arterial, diabetes mellitus, obesidade, estatinas, insuficiência cardíaca, fibrilação atrial, antiagregantes, apneia do sono, revascularização carotídea e tratamento farmacológico sintomático.

Thrombolytic therapy for acute stroke in the elderly: an emergent condition in developing countries.

Elderly patients may represent an important group when considering new stroke treatments, particularly in developing countries. The aim of this study was to analyze the use of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) in elderly Brazilian patients with acute ischemic stroke. Clinical and neuroimaging parameters at admission, frequency of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, and outcome were compared between elderly (≥80 years) and nonelderly (<80 years) stroke patients treated with rtPA in the Porto Alegre Stroke Network. We evaluated 183 nonelderly patients (mean age, 63 ± 12 years) and 55 elderly patients (mean age, 84 ± 3 years). Female sex, hypertension, congestive heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and previous history of stroke or transient ischemic attack were more frequent in the elderly patients. Elderly patients also presented with higher mean systolic blood pressure (P = .03) and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score (P < .0001), whereas the nonelderly patients had a higher serum glucose level (P = .03). The rate of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage was 10.9% in the elderly patients and 6.6% in the nonelderly patients (P = .28), and a substantial proportion of the elderly patients achieved a favorable outcome (modified Rankin Scale score ≤1) at 90 days, although this proportion was lower than that in the nonelderly patients (42% vs 58%; P = .04). Poorer outcomes were generally seen in elderly patients with an anterior circulation stroke, a higher NIHSS score, hypoattenuation in ≥1/3 lf the middle cerebral artery territory, and an Alberta Stroke Program Early CT score of ≤7 on an initial computed tomography scan. Our results support the administration of intravenous rtPA in selected elderly stroke patients presenting early to the hospital in developing countries.

Treatment of vascular dementia. Recommendations of the Scientific Department of Cognitive Neurology and Aging of the Brazilian Academy of Neurology.

Scientific Department of Cognitive Neurology and Aging of ABN had a consensus meeting to write recommendations on treatment of vascular dementia, there was no previous issue. This disease has numerous particularities and can be considered a preventable dementia. Prevention treatment is primary care of vascular risk factors or a secondary prevention of factors that could cause recurrence of ischemic or hemorrhagic brain modifications. In these guidelines we suggested only symptomatic treatment, pharmacologic or non-pharmacologic. We have reviewed current publications on MEDLINE (PubMed), LILACS e Cochrane Library databases. Recommendations are concern to the following factors and their prevention evidences, association, or treatment of vascular dementia: physical activity, tobacco use, diet and food supplements, arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, obesity, statins, cardiac failure, atrial fibrillation, antithrombotics, sleep apnea, carotid revascularization, symptomatic pharmacological treatment.

O DC de Neurologia Cognitiva e do Envelhecimento da ABN reuniu-se para escrever recomendações para o tratamento da demência vascular, uma vez que não havia nenhuma recomendação neste sentido. Esta doença tem inúmeras particularidades e pode ser considerada uma das demências que pode ser prevenida. O tratamento para sua prevenção é o de cuidados primários para os fatores de risco vasculares, ou a prevenção secundária dos fatores que levam a recorrência de alterações isquêmicas ou hemorrágicas cerebrais. Nestas recomendações sugerimos apenas o tratamento sintomático, medicamentoso ou não. Baseamo-nos nas evidências disponíveis, através da revisão das publicações nas bases MEDLINE (PubMed), LILACS e Cochrane Library. As recomendações dizem respeito aos seguintes fatores e suas evidências na prevenção, associação ou tratamento da demência vascular: atividade física, álcool, tabagismo, dieta e suplementos, hipertensão arterial, diabetes mellitus, obesidade, estatinas, insuficiência cardíaca, fibrilação atrial, antiagregantes, apneia do sono, revascularização carotídea e tratamento farmacológico sintomático.

Absence of association between TNF-α polymorphism and cerebral large-vessel abnormalities in adults with sickle cell anemia.

Stroke is a serious complication of sickle cell anemia (SCA) affecting children and adults. Recent reports suggested that tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) (-308) polymorphism is an important risk factor for stroke in children with SCA. The role of TNF-α polymorphism in the frequency of brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) abnormalities in adults with SCA is still uncertain. Our objective was to evaluate the frequency of TNF-α polymorphism in adults with SCA and to correlate it to brain MRI and MRA findings. TNF-α (-308) polymorphism was determined in 49 adults with SCA. All subjects were evaluated with brain MRI/MRA to establish the presence of intracranial abnormalities. Thirty-three (67.3%) had abnormal brain MRA scans, 8 (16.3%) had intracranial stenosis and 29 (59.2%) showed arterial tortuosity. Forty-one (83.7%) had the GG genotype and 8 had the GA genotype. There was no correlation between homozygosity for G allele and MRA or MRI abnormalities. Although TNF-α (-308) polymorphism is a potential predictor of the genetic risk for stroke in children, we found no association between the polymorphism and large vessel abnormalities in adults with SCA.