Successful Reperfusion with Endovascular Therapy Has Beneficial Effects on Long-Term Outcome Beyond 90 Days.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Recent studies have demonstrated that endovascular reperfusion therapy improves clinical outcomes at 90 days after ischemic stroke. However, the effects on long-term outcomes are not well known. We hypothesized that successful reperfusion might be associated with long-term improvement beyond 90 days after endovascular therapy. To assess the long-term effects beyond 90 days, we analyzed the association of successful reperfusion with a temporal change in modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score from 90 days to 1 year after endovascular therapy. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed a database of consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke who received endovascular therapy between April 2006 and March 2016 at 4 centers. We compared the incidences of improvement and deterioration in patients with successful reperfusion (i.e., modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction score of 2b or 3) with those in patients with unsuccessful reperfusion. We defined improvement and deterioration as decrease and increase on the mRS score by 1 point or more from 90 days to 1 year after endovascular therapy respectively. RESULTS: A total of 268 patients were included in the current study. The rate of patients with improvement tended to be higher in patients with successful reperfusion than in patients with unsuccessful reperfusion (20% [34/167 patients] vs. 12% [12/101], p = 0.07). The rate of patients with deterioration was lower in patients with successful reperfusion than in patients with unsuccessful reperfusion (25% [42/167] vs. 42% [42/101], p < 0.01). After adjustment for confounders, successful reperfusion was associated with improvement (adjusted OR 2.65; 95% CI 1.23-5.73; p < 0.05) and deterioration (adjusted OR 0.33; 95% CI 0.18-0.62; p < 0.01), independent of the 90-day mRS score. CONCLUSIONS: Successful reperfusion has further beneficial legacy effects on long-term outcomes beyond 90 days after stroke.

Primary Intracranial Leiomyosarcoma with Intratumoral Hemorrhage: Case Report and Review of Literature.

BACKGROUND: Primary intracranial leiomyosarcoma is a very rare occurrence, and primary leiomyosarcoma with intratumoral hemorrhage has not been described previously. We present a case of a rapidly enlarging primary intracranial leiomyosarcoma with intratumoral hemorrhage. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 41-year-old female presented with right hemiparesis and gait disturbance. She had a brain tumor on the frontal lobe that was growing rapidly. An intratumoral hemorrhage had occurred suddenly. We removed the tumor after hemorrhage. After the operation, postoperative chemotherapy and radiotherapy were not performed, but the tumor did not recur. CONCLUSIONS: To the best our knowledge, this is the first report of primary intracranial leiomyosarcoma with intratumoral hemorrhage.

Effect of choice of treatment modality on the incidence of shunt-dependent hydrocephalus after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

OBJECTIVE: Shunt-dependent hydrocephalus (SDHC) may arise after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) as CSF resorptive mechanisms are disrupted. Using propensity score analysis, the authors aimed to investigate which treatment modality, surgical clipping or endovascular treatment, is superior in reducing rates of SDHC after aSAH. METHODS: The authors' multicenter SAH database, comprising 3 stroke centers affiliated with Kyoto University, Japan, was used to identify patients treated between January 2009 and July 2016. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to characterize risk factors for SDHC after aSAH. A propensity score model was generated for both treatment groups, incorporating relevant patient covariates to detect any superiority for prevention of SDHC after aSAH. RESULTS: A total of 566 patients were enrolled in this study. SDHC developed in 127 patients (22%). On multivariate analysis, age older than 53 years, the presence of intraventricular hematoma, and surgical clipping as opposed to endovascular coiling were independently associated with SDHC after aSAH. After propensity score matching, 136 patients treated with surgical clipping and 136 with endovascular treatment were matched. Propensity score-matched cohorts exhibited a significantly lower incidence of SDHC after endovascular treatment than after surgical clipping (16% vs 30%, p = 0.009; OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.2-4.2). SDHC was independently associated with poor neurological outcomes (modified Rankin Scale score 3-6) at discharge (OR 4.3, 95% CI 2.6-7.3; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: SDHC after aSAH occurred significantly more frequently in patients who underwent surgical clipping. Strategies for treatment of ruptured aneurysms should be used to mitigate SDHC and minimize poor outcomes.

Severe Hypoglycemia-induced Right Hemiparesis with Reversible Diffusion Restriction in the Left Internal Capsule Due to Combination Therapy Using Disopyramide and Clarithromycin.

Severe hypoglycemia is known to cause acute focal neurological symptoms. In cases with a medical history of diabetes mellitus (DM), the diagnosis and treatment of hypoglycemia-induced neurological symptoms are simple. However, severe hypoglycemia can occur in patients who are not taking hypoglycemic agents such as insulin or long-acting sulfonylurea drugs. We describe a 95-year-old man with sudden onset of right hemiparesis who showed high signal intensity on diffusion-weighted imaging involving the left internal capsule with corresponding reduced apparent diffusion coefficient hypointensity. Laboratory findings revealed severe hypoglycemia (27 mg/dl). However, he was not taking insulin or long-acting sulfonylurea drugs but disopyramide and clarithromycin had been administered. In addition, he had kidney dysfunction with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of 42.9 ml/min/1.73 m2. After the blood glucose level was normalized, the left hemiparesis completely recovered and abnormal findings of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study also became normal. A combination of disopyramide and clarithromycin may cause severe hypoglycemia-induced neurological symptoms particularly in patients with kidney dysfunction. Even in a patient with sudden-onset hemiparesis and no history of DM, the possibility of hypoglycemia-induced neurological deficit should be considered.

Short-Term Results of Carotid Endarterectomy and Stenting After the Introduction of Carotid Magnetic Resonance Imaging: A Single-Institution Retrospective Study.

OBJECTIVE: Although carotid artery stenting (CAS) has been gaining popularity as an alternative to carotid endarterectomy (CEA), perioperative stroke rate following contemporary CAS remains significantly higher than stroke rate after CEA. The purpose of this study was to assess perioperative (within 30 days) therapeutic results in patients with carotid stenosis (CS) after introduction of preoperative carotid magnetic resonance imaging plaque evaluation in a single center performing both CEA and CAS. METHODS: Based on prospectively collected data for patients with CS who were scheduled for carotid revascularization, retrospective analysis was conducted of 295 consecutive patients with CS. An intervention was selected after consideration of periprocedural risks for both CEA and CAS. Concerning risk factors for CAS, results of magnetic resonance imaging plaque evaluation were emphasized with a view toward reducing embolic complications. RESULTS: CAS was performed in 114 patients, and CEA was performed in 181 patients. Comparing baseline characteristics of the 295 patients, age, T1 signal intensity of plaque, symptomatic CS, urgent intervention, and diabetes mellitus differed significantly between CAS and CEA groups. Among patients who underwent CAS, new hyperintense lesions on diffusion-weighted imaging were confirmed in 47 patients. New hyperintense lesions on diffusion-weighted imaging were recognized in 21.4% of patients who underwent CEA (n = 39), significantly less frequent than in patients who underwent CAS. CONCLUSIONS: The overall short-term outcome of CEA and CAS is acceptable. Preoperative carotid magnetic resonance imaging evaluation of plaque might contribute to low rates of ischemic complications in CAS.

Reduced cerebrovascular reserve is associated with an increased risk of postoperative ischemic lesions during carotid artery stenting.

BACKGROUND: Reduced cerebrovascular reserve (CVR) is associated with increased risk of ischemic events in carotid steno-occlusive diseases. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether pretreatment CVR can predict postoperative ischemic lesions after carotid artery stenting (CAS) by retrospective analysis. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 46 patients (42 men; mean age 74.2±8.3 years) who underwent CAS and preprocedural cerebral blood flow measurement by quantitative single-photon emission CT. Ischemic lesions were evaluated by diffusion-weighted image (DWI) within 72 h after the intervention. We also evaluated plaque characteristics using black-blood MR plaque imaging. RESULTS: New ipsilateral DWI-positive lesions were found in 11 cases (23.9%). Patients were classified into two groups based on the presence or absence of new DWI-positive lesions, and no significant differences in characteristics were found between the DWI-positive and DWI-negative groups, except for age and CVR of the ipsilateral middle cerebral artery (MCA) territory. The DWI-positive group was significantly older than the DWI-negative group (79.7±4.1 vs 72.5±8.6 years; p=0.0085) and had lower average regional CVR (1.4±18.2% vs 22.4±25.8%; p=0.016). MR plaque imaging showed no significant difference in relative overall plaque MR signal intensity between the two groups (1.53±0.37 vs 1.34±0.26; p=0.113). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, lower CVR of the ipsilateral MCA territory (<11%) was the only independent risk factor for new ischemic lesions following CAS (OR=6.99; 95% CI 1.17 to 41.80; p=0.033). CONCLUSIONS: Impaired pretreatment CVR was associated with increased incidence of new infarction after CAS.

Dural arteriovenous fistula in the falx cerebri treated with transarterial embolization using n-butyl cyanoacrylate.

BACKGROUND: A dural arteriovenous fistula in the falx cerebri is a relatively rare lesion, with only two cases reported till date. One was treated with direct surgery, and the other was followed-up conservatively. Advances in catheter design and embolic materials have made safe and curative transarterial embolization of dural arteriovenous fistulas possible in the current era. CASE DESCRIPTION: We describe a 67-year-old man with left putaminal hemorrhage who was diagnosed with an arteriovenous fistula in the anterior part of the falx cerebri that was treated with curative transarterial glue embolization through the middle meningeal artery by using n-butyl cyanoacrylate. CONCLUSION: Although the procedure was safely performed, understanding the potential risks of the migration of embolic materials into the ophthalmic and anterior cerebral artery system is mandatory.

X-ray Angiography Perfusion Analysis for the Balloon Occlusion Test of the Internal Carotid Artery.

BACKGROUND: A perfusion study should be performed during the balloon occlusion test (BOT) to prevent ischemic events after therapeutic carotid occlusion. We evaluated the efficacy of X-ray angiography perfusion analysis during the BOT. METHODS: Twenty-one consecutive patients who underwent the BOT of the internal carotid artery were included. Patients who had a venous phase delay of less than .5 seconds and a mean stump pressure of more than 50 mm Hg without any neurologic symptoms were considered tolerant, and other patients were considered intolerant. A time-density curve was constructed for each hemisphere using X-ray angiography perfusion software (2D-Perfusion). The mean transit time and area under the curve, which correspond to cerebral blood volume, were calculated from the curve. Differences in these parameters between the occluded and nonoccluded hemispheres and the perfusion index were compared between the tolerant and intolerant groups. RESULTS: In the intolerant group, the mean transit time was significantly longer (1.31 ± .72 seconds versus .44 ± .21 seconds, P = .001) and the perfusion index was significantly lower (.72 ± .16 versus .94 ± .08, P = .001) compared with those in the tolerant group. The area under the curve was not different between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Parameters obtained by X-ray angiography perfusion analysis were significantly different between the tolerant and intolerant groups. The X-ray angiography perfusion analysis could be a safe and effective method for assessing ischemic tolerance before therapeutic carotid occlusion.

Milrinone via lumbar subarachnoid catheter for vasospasm after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

INTRODUCTION: Delayed ischemic neurological deficit (DIND) due to symptomatic vasospasm is a major cause of morbidity and mortality after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). The aim of this study was to elucidate the safety and feasibility of intrathecal milrinone infusion via lumber subarachnoid catheter for prevention of DIND after aSAH. METHODS: We diagnosed 425 consecutive patients with aSAH who received clipping or coil embolization within 48 h after arrival. Patients with the evidence of vasospasm on CT angiography (CTA) received the milrinone therapy via lumbar subarachnoid catheter. DIND, delayed cerebral infarction (DCI), and modified Rankin scale at 3 months after SAH were used for the assessment of outcome. RESULTS: Of 425 patients, 170 patients (40.0 %) with CTA-proven vasospasm received the milrinone therapy. DIND was observed in 68 patients (16.0 %), DCI in 30 patients (7.1 %), and the overall mortality was 7.2 %. In patients with WFNS grade IV and V aSAH, 26 out of 145 patients (17.9 %) were presented with DIND, 12 (8.3 %) with DCI, and the mortality was 16.0 %. No major complication related to the milrinone injection was observed. CONCLUSION: Intrathecal milrinone injection via lumbar catheter was safe and feasible, and further randomized prospective studies are needed to confirm the effectiveness of this regimen in the patients with SAH.

Triple balloon protection technique using the mo.ma ultra with the carotid GuardWire for carotid stenting: technical note.

BACKGROUND: We describe the "triple balloon protection technique" (TBPT) using the Mo.Ma Ultra in combination with the Carotid GuardWire during carotid artery stenting (CAS). This technique is expected to prevent distal embolism to the internal and external carotid arteries, and is suitable for East Asians in whom the origin of the superior thyroid artery is lower than that in Caucasians. METHODS: From December 2012 to May 2013, 11 patients underwent CAS using TBPT in our center. RESULTS: Procedural success was achieved in all patients. Complete flow blockade by angiography could not be obtained in 8 patients (72.7%) by proximal occlusion using the Mo.Ma Ultra only. Complete angiographic flow blockade was obtained in all patients by TBPT. No major adverse cardiovascular events, including stroke, myocardial infarction, or death because of any cause, occurred within 30 days. CONCLUSIONS: The use of TBPT for CAS may be effective for preventing distal embolisms, especially for East Asians.

Perimesencephalic nonaneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage with unilateral third cranial nerve palsy: two case reports.

Perimesencephalic nonaneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (PNSAH) is a benign form of subarachnoid hemorrhage and is usually not associated with any focal deficit. We describe two rare cases of PNSAH with unilateral third cranial nerve palsy. Both patients were treated conservatively. The outcomes of our two cases were excellent. The third cranial nerve palsy resolved gradually in both patients, suggesting that the prognosis for third cranial nerve palsy concomitant with PNSAH is favorable. Unilateral third cranial nerve palsy may occur as the first clinical manifestation of PNSAH.

Symptomatic low-grade carotid stenosis with intraplaque hemorrhage and expansive arterial remodeling is associated with a high relapse rate refractory to medical treatment.

BACKGROUND: Carotid plaque characteristics influence future risk of stroke considerably. However, the severity of stenosis does not accurately reflect plaque burden in patients with expansive arterial remodeling. OBJECTIVE: To determine the therapeutic outcome of symptomatic carotid low-grade stenosis with vulnerable plaque based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) characterization. METHODS: We studied 25 (male, n = 23; age, 74.2 ± 5.6 years) of 29 consecutive patients with symptomatic carotid low-grade stenosis (<50%) and both high-signal plaque and expansive remodeling on T1-weighted MRIs. The remaining 4 were excluded because of impending stroke. A single antithrombotic and statin were administered, and recurrent ischemic stroke was treated with dual antithrombotics. We considered carotid endarterectomy when recurrence was refractory to aggressive medical treatment. RESULTS: During a 31.3 ± 16.4-month follow-up, 11 of the 25 patients developed a total of 30 recurrent ischemic events (46.0% per patient-year). The patients' characteristics did not differ significantly between the groups with and without recurrence (n = 11 and n = 14, respectively). Seven of 11 patients in the recurrence group treated with carotid endarterectomy remained free of ischemic events during a postoperative follow-up of 19.1 ± 14.6 months. CONCLUSION: Symptomatic low-grade carotid stenosis with vulnerable plaque confirmed by MRI was associated with a high rate of stroke recurrence that was refractory to aggressive medical treatment. However, carotid endarterectomy was safe and effective for such patients. Plaque characterization by MRI has the potential for more accurate stroke risk stratification in the management of carotid low-grade stenosis.

Prediction of mortality by hematological parameters on admission in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage.

This retrospective study investigated the correlations between red blood cell (RBC) count, hemoglobin, and hematocrit on admission, and mortality in 140 patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Correlations between the hematological parameters RBC count, hematocrit, hemoglobin, white blood cell (WBC) count, and platelet count on admission and mortality were investigated. Association of each variable with mortality was tested by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Univariate analysis showed that mortality was associated with RBC count, hematocrit, hemoglobin, and platelet count. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed hematocrit, WBC count, and platelet count were significant independent predictors for mortality after SAH. Hematocrit was a new significant predictor related to mortality in patients with SAH.

[in-hospital mortality in patient with acute ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke].

There is a lack of evidence to compare in-hospital mortality with different types of stroke. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the in-hospital mortality after acute ischemic/hemorrhagic stroke and compare the factors associated with the mortality among stroke subtypes. All patients admitted to Kurashiki Central Hospital in Japan between January 2009 and December 2009, and diagnosed with acute ischemic/hemorrhagic stroke were included in this study. Demographics and clinical data pertaining to the patients were obtained from their medical records. Out of 738 patients who had an acute stroke, 53 (7.2%) died in the hospital. The in-hospital mortality was significantly lower in the cerebral infarction group than in the intracerebral hemorrhage and subarachnoid hemorrhage group (3.5%, 15.1%, and 17.9%, respectively; P<0.0001). Age was significantly lower in the subarachnoid hemorrhage group than in the other 2 groups. With regard to past history, diabetes mellitus was significantly found to be a complication in mortality cases of intracranial hemorrhage. Further investigation is needed to clarify the effect of diabetes on mortality after intracranial hemorrhage.

Ischemic stroke due to dissection of the middle cerebral artery treated by superficial temporal artery-middle cerebral artery anastomosis--case report.

A 62-year-old man presented with dissection of the right middle cerebral artery (MCA) manifesting as mild headache, right hemiparesis, and slurred speech. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and MR angiography revealed fresh infarction in the right basal ganglia, and severe stenosis and dilatation of the right MCA. Digital subtraction angiography approximately 24 hours after admission revealed a linear contrast defect indicating an intimal flap of the M(1) segment. The diagnosis was dissection of the MCA. His neurological deficits improved gradually. Although he was neurologically stable, diffusion-weighted MR imaging revealed enlarging infarct size over the right MCA territory, and the right M(1) segment had progressive stenosis. Superficial temporal artery (STA)-MCA anastomosis was performed on the 26th day. Follow-up angiography showed good patency of the STA-MCA anastomosis, repair of the dissection of the M(1) segment, and improvement of the flow in the MCA. The patient was discharged from our hospital with no neurological deficits. Although the dissection in this case was spontaneously repaired, STA-MCA anastomosis was useful to get through a critical time. If the stenosis shows further progression or the infarction size enlarges, STA-MCA anastomosis may be effective.

Variant deep cerebral venous drainage in idiopathic subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Variant deep cerebral venous drainage, primarily involving the basal vein of Rosenthal (BVR), may be a cause of idiopathic subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). In this study, deep venous drainage was compared between 13 patients with idiopathic SAH and 35 control patients with aneurysmal SAH diagnosed by digital subtraction angiography (DSA). Venous return was evaluated by DSA on 25 sides in patients with idiopathic SAH and 67 sides in patients with aneurysmal SAH, and the relationship between the BVR and the vein of Galen was classified into 3 categories: types A (normal continuous), B (normal discontinuous), and C (primitive variant). The occurrence rates of the three categories were: idiopathic SAH, type A 24%, type C 40%; and aneurysmal SAH, type A 49.3%, type C 10.4% (p = 0.003). Combined bilateral venous drainage was classified as normal combination (AA), discontinuous combination (AB, BB), and primitive combination (AC, BC, CC), with rates: idiopathic SAH, normal 0%, primitive 58.3%; and aneurysmal SAH, normal 42.4%, primitive 21.2%. Venous drainage on either the left or right side was more commonly type C (primitive) in idiopathic SAH (p = 0.006). Three patients with left-right differences in hematoma distribution on brain computed tomography had types A, B, and C on the SAH dominant side in one patient each. No clear trend was observed between hematoma distribution and primitive variant side. Some patients with idiopathic SAH had thick hematoma in the basal cistern. Further, 3 patients with idiopathic SAH had an aneurysmal pattern, rather than a perimesencephalic pattern. All these patients had type C either on the left or right side. Therefore, although the mechanism of involvement of venous drainage in idiopathic SAH is unknown, hemorrhage is not limited to a perimesencephalic pattern. The present findings support a previous hypothesis that variant venous drainage is involved in the occurrence of idiopathic SAH. The absence of a normal combination of venous drainage is an important factor to diagnose idiopathic SAH.

[Trends in mortality rates for subarachnoid hemorrhage, from 1999 through 2008: single center experience].

We retrospectively reviewed the mortality rate of the patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) who received initial treatment in Kurashiki Central Hospital, for the 10-year period from 1999 through 2008. The overall mortality was 18.1% (120/662). The average fatality rate in such cases has shown a decreasing trend, from 24.2% in 1999-2002 to 15.9% in 2005-2008 (p=0.016). Transition in initial diagnostic modality from the time-consuming digital subtraction angiography to the less-invasive computed tomographic angiography, appropriate indication for the operation, and improvement in postoperative management might affect this decline in fatality cases.

[Strategy for revascularization of chronic carotid occlusion with contralateral carotid stenosis].

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The optimal therapeutic approach for chronic carotid occlusion with contralateral carotid stenosis (ICO-ICS) remains uncertain. The aim of this study was to elucidate the safety and efficacy of initial vascular reconstruction for ICS in patients with ICO-ICS. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eleven patients with ICO-ICS who demonstrated severe cerebral hypoperfusion in the hemisphere ipsilateral to ICO were treated in our institution between February 2003 and November 2007. Revascularization for ICS after measuring cerebral blood flow (CBF) by single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) was performed either by carotid endarterectomy or carotid stenting. External carotid artery-internal carotid artery (EC-IC) bypass for ICO was also performed when SPECT after revascularization for ICS still demonstrated marked hypoperfusion. RESULTS: In 6 patients with collateral flow via the anterior communicating artery and/or who had high-grade ICS (>70%), sufficient improvement of CBF solely by revascularization for ICS was confirmed. With regard to perioperative complications, 2 patients suffered bradycardia and hypotension and another 2 showed asymptomatic cerebral infarction on diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. CONCLUSIONS: Overall results for revascularization of ICS prior to that for ICO in patients with ICO-ICS were acceptable. CBF of bilateral hemispheres was sufficiently improved in more than half of the patients solely by revascularization for ICS. This strategy might be both efficient and effective for ICO-ICS.