Transient recurrent episodes of abducens nerve palsy and cheiro-oral syndrome in a sub-occlusive carotid bulb atherosclerotic stenosis.

We report the case of a male in his 50s with a history of smoking admitted to our hospital for three transient recurrent episodes of less than 60 min of cheiro-oral paresthesias and binocular horizontal diplopia with convergent strabismus. On admission, his neurological examination was normal. Cerebral magnetic resonance imaging showed no cerebral lesion. Computed tomography angiography showed a sub-occlusive right carotid bulb atherosclerotic stenosis, the absence of abnormality of the subclavian arteries and the origin of the vertebral arteries, and no stenosis of the basilar artery or posterior cerebral arteries. Routine blood tests were normal with glycated hemoglobin of 6.5%. The patient underwent right carotid endarterectomy. One year after carotid endarterectomy, the patient has had no other cerebrovascular events.

Detection of moderate to severe middle cerebral artery atherosclerotic stenosis in stroke patients: Transcranial color-coded duplex sonography versus computed tomography angiography.

Background: Intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis is a common cause of ischemic cerebrovascular events and is associated with a high risk of stroke recurrence. This study aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of transcranial color-coded duplex sonography for moderate-to-severe middle cerebral artery stenosis in stroke patients. Methods: A retrospective analysis was carried out, including 31 patients aged ⩾18 years hospitalized for ischemic cerebrovascular event in whom middle cerebral artery stenosis ⩾30% was identified on computed tomography angiography. Transcranial color-coded duplex sonography findings were compared to the degree of stenosis blindly identified on the computed tomography angiography used as the reference method. Results: Overall, 27 patients had M1 stenosis and the other 4 had M2 stenosis. To detect M2 stenosis ⩾ 50% and ⩾ 70%, stenotic to pre-stenotic ratio ⩾ 2 and ⩾ 3 had a sensitivity of 100%, respectively. To detect M1 stenosis ⩾ 70%, peak systolic velocity ⩾ 300 cm/s had a sensitivity of 53.8% and specificity of 85.7% with area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve of 0.753 (95% confidence interval: 0.568-0.938; p = 0.026), and stenotic to pre-stenotic ratio ⩾ 3 had a sensitivity of 84.6% and a specificity of 78.6% (area under the curve = 0.854; 95% confidence interval: 0.707-1; p = 0.002). Middle cerebral artery/anterior cerebral artery velocity ratio < 0.7 had a sensitivity of 57.1% and specificity of 90% to detect dampened pre-stenotic flow in middle cerebral artery secondary to downstream M1 stenosis ⩾ 70% (area under the curve = 0.800; 95% confidence interval: 0.584-1; p = 0.040). Conclusion: This study showed that stenotic to pre-stenotic ratio ⩾ 3 was more sensitive than peak systolic velocity ⩾ 300 cm/s to screen M1 stenosis ⩾ 70%. Middle cerebral artery/anterior cerebral artery ratio < 0.7 was a good indirect sign to detect dampened pre-stenotic flow due to M1 stenosis ⩾ 70%.

A Simple Score for Predicting Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation in Patients with Embolic Stroke of Undetermined Source in a Tunisian Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: The annualized recurrent stroke rate in patients with Embolic Stroke of Undetermined Source (ESUS) under antiplatelet therapy is around 4.5%. Only a fraction of these patients will develop atrial fibrillation (FA), to which a stroke can be attributed retrospectively. The challenge is to identify patients at risk of occult AF during follow-up. OBJECTIVE: This work aims to determine clinical factors and electrocardiographic and ultrasound parameters that can predict occult AF in patients with ESUS and build a simple predictive score applicable worldwide. METHODS: This is a single-center, registry-based retrospective study conducted at the stroke unit of Sahloul University Hospital, Sousse, Tunisia, between January 2016 and December 2020. Consecutive patients meeting ESUS criteria were monitored for a minimum of one year, with a standardized follow-up consisting of outpatient visits, including ECG every three months and a new 24-hour Holter monitoring in case of palpitations. We performed multivariate stepwise regression to identify predictors of new paroxysmal AF among initial clinical, electrocardiographic (ECG and 24-hour Holter monitoring) and echocardiographic parameters. The coefficient of each independent covariate of the fitted multivariable model was used to generate an integerbased point-scoring system. RESULTS: Three hundred patients met the criteria for ESUS. Among them, 42 (14%) patients showed at least one episode of paroxysmal AF during a median follow-up of two years. In univariate analysis, age, gender, coronary artery disease, history of ischemic stroke, higher NIHSS at admission and lower NIHSS at discharge, abnormal P-wave axis, prolonged P-wave duration, premature atrial contractions (PAC) frequency of more than 500/24 hours, and left atrial (LA) mean area of more than 20 cm2 were associated with the risk of occurrence of paroxysmal AF. We proposed an AF predictive score based on (1.771 x NIHSS score at admission) + (10.015 x P-wave dispersion; coded 1 if yes and 0 if no) + (9.841x PAC class; coded 1 if ≥500 and 0 if no) + (9.828x LA class surface; coded 1 if ≥20 and 0 if no) + (0.548xNIHSS score at discharge) + 0.004. A score of ≥33 had a sensitivity of 76% and a specificity of 93%. CONCLUSION: In this cohort of patients with ESUS, NIHSS at both admission and discharge, Pwave dispersion, PAC≥500/24h on a 24-hour Holter monitoring, and LA surface area≥20 cm2 provide a simple AF predictive score with very reasonable sensitivity and specificity and is applicable almost worldwide. An external validation of this score is ongoing.

First-ever acute ischemic strokes in HIV-infected persons: A case-control study from stroke units.

OBJECTIVE: The stroke risk for persons living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIVs) doubled compared to uninfected individuals. Stroke-unit (SU)-access, acute reperfusion therapy-use and outcome data on PLHIVs admitted for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) are scarce. METHODS: AIS patients admitted (01 January 2017 to 31 January 2021) to 10 representative Paris-area SUs were screened retrospectively from the National Hospitalization Database. PLHIVs were compared to age-, initial NIHSS- and sex-matched HIV-uninfected controls (HUCs). Outcome was the 90-day modified Rankin Scale score. RESULTS: Among 126 PLHIVs with confirmed first-ever AIS, ~80% were admitted outside the thrombolysis-administration window. Despite antiretrovirals, uncontrolled plasma HIV loads exceeded 50 copies/mL (26% of all PLHIVs; 38% of those ≤55 years). PLHIVs' stroke causes by decreasing frequency were large artery atherosclerosis (LAA), undetermined, other cause, cerebral small-vessel disease (CSVD) or cardioembolism. No stroke etiology was associated with HIV duration or detectable HIVemia. MRI revealed previously unknown AIS in one in three PLHIVs, twice the HUC rate (p = 0.006). Neither group had optimally controlled modifiable cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs): 20%-30% without specific hypertension, diabetes, and/or dyslipidemia treatments. Their stroke outcomes were comparable. Multivariable analyses retained good prognosis associated solely with initial NIHSS or reperfusion therapy. Older age and hypertension were associated with CSVD/LAA for all PLHIVs. Standard neurovascular care and reperfusion therapy were well-tolerated. INTERPRETATION: The high uncontrolled HIV-infection rate and suboptimal CVRF treatment support heightened vigilance to counter suboptimal HIV suppression and antiretroviral adherence, and improve CVRF prevention, mainly for younger PLHIVs. Those preventive, routine measures could lower PLHIVs' AIS risk.

Clinical, imaging, and management features of symptomatic carotid web: Insight from CAROWEB registry.

BACKGROUND: Although carotid web (CaW) is increasingly diagnosed as a cause of cryptogenic stroke, data are still limited to monocentric small sample cohort. To broaden knowledge on symptomatic CaW, CAROWEB registry has been recently implemented. AIMS: In a large cohort of symptomatic CaW patients, we described epidemiologic characteristics, admission clinical and imaging features, and the current management including the secondary preventive strategy choice made in comprehensive French Stroke Units. METHODS: CAROWEB is an ongoing French observational multicenter registry enrolling consecutive CaW patients diagnosed after an ipsilateral ischemic stroke (IS) or transient ischemic attack (TIA). Submitted cases were validated by two experienced neurologist and neuroradiologist. Clinical, imaging, and management features were collected for this study. RESULTS: Between June 2019 and December 2021, 244 cases were submitted by 14 centers, 42 rejected, and 202 included (IS, 91.6%; TIA, 7.9%; retinal infarction, 0.5%; mean age, 50.8 ± 12.2 years; female, 62.9%; Caucasian, 47.5%; Afro-Caribbean, 20.3%). IS patients showed median (interquartile range (IQR)) admission National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, 8 (2-15); intracranial artery occlusion, 71.8%; ipsilateral chronic cerebral infarction (CCI), 16.3%; and reperfusion treatment, 57.3%. CaW was not identified during the mechanical thrombectomy procedure in 30 of 85 (35.3%) patients. Secondary prevention was invasive in 55.6% (stenting, n = 80; surgery, n = 30). In multivariable analysis, the invasive therapeutic option was associated with ipsilateral CCI (odds ratio (OR): 4.24 (1.27-14.2), p = 0.019) and inversely associated with risk factors (OR: 0.47 (0.24-0.91), p = 0.025) and admission NIHSS score (OR: 0.93 (0.89-0.97), p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: CaW must be considered in all ethnic groups including Caucasians. Secondary prevention is heterogeneous in large French Stroke Centers. The absence of risk factors, milder severity strokes, and ipsilateral CCI were predictive variables of secondary invasive treatment. The high rate of invasive treatment suggests that medical treatment alone is deemed ineffective to avoid recurrence and emphasize the need of randomized trials.

Intravenous thrombolysis with tenecteplase versus alteplase combined with endovascular treatment of anterior circulation tandem occlusions: A pooled analysis of ETIS and TETRIS.

BACKGROUND: Tandem occlusions are a singular large vessel occlusion entity involving specific endovascular and perioperative antithrombotic management. In this context, data on safety and efficacy of prior intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) with tenecteplase is scarce. We aimed to compare IVT with tenecteplase or alteplase in patients with acute tandem occlusions intended for endovascular treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective pooled analysis of two large observational registries (ETIS (Endovascular Treatment of Ischemic Stroke) and TETRIS (Tenecteplase Treatment in Ischemic Stroke)) was performed on consecutive patients presenting with anterior circulation tandem occlusion treated with IVT using either alteplase (ETIS) or tenecteplase (TETRIS) followed by endovascular treatment between January 2015 and June 2022. Sensitivity analyses on atherosclerosis related tandem occlusions and on patient treated with emergent carotid stenting were conducted. Propensity score overlap weighting analyses were performed. RESULTS: We analyzed 753 patients: 124 in the tenecteplase and 629 in the alteplase group. The overall odds of favorable outcome (3-month modified Rankin score 0-2) were comparable between both groups (49.4% vs 47.1%; OR = 1.10, 95%CI 0.85-1.41). Early recanalization, final successful recanalization and mortality favored the use of tenecteplase. The occurrence of any intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) was more frequent after tenecteplase use (OR = 2.24; 95%CI 1.75-2.86). However, risks of symptomatic ICH and parenchymal hematoma remained similar. In atherosclerotic tandems, favorable outcome, mortality, parenchymal hematoma, early recanalization, and final successful recanalization favored the tenecteplase group. In the carotid stenting subgroup, PH were less frequent in the tenecteplase group (OR = 0.18; 95%CI 0.05-0.69). CONCLUSION: In patients with tandem occlusions, IVT with tenecteplase seemed reasonably safe in particular with increased early recanalization rates. These findings remain preliminary and should be further confirmed in randomized trials.

Neurorehabilitation through Hippotherapy on Neurofunctional Sequels of Stroke: Effect on Patients' Functional Independence, Sensorimotor/Cognitive Capacities and Quality of Life, and the Quality of Life of Their Caregivers-A Study Protocol.

BACKGROUND: Stroke is a high burden illness and the second leading cause of worldwide disability with generally poor recovery rates. Robust benefits of hippotherapy, a novel neurorehabilitation approach, in functional recovery following various severe neurological disabling conditions has been shown. In the present study, we will analyze the effect of a hippotherapy program on the outcome of post-stroke patients in the first year post-stroke. METHOD: A randomized controlled clinical trial on the effectiveness of hippotherapy (4 weeks/18 weeks hippotherapy/conventional neurorehabilitation) versus conventional neurorehabilitation alone (22 weeks) will be conducted over 48 weeks. In the treated group, one-hour daily hippotherapy sessions will be exclusively conducted during the hippotherapy's cycles, alternated with periods of conventional neurorehabilitation. A test battery will measure both the functional and psychological outcomes. The primary endpoint will be the patient's functional independence. The secondary endpoints will measure the sensorimotor function, autonomy, and quality of life, as well as the caregivers' quality of life. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Individual brain connectome, life history and personality construct influence the brain's functional connectivity and are central to developing optimal tailored neurorehabilitation strategies. According to our current practice, hippotherapy allows the enhancement of substantial neuroplastic changes in the injured brain with significant neurological recovery. The protocol aims to confirm those issues. Trial registration in ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04759326 accessed on 19 February 2021.

Floating aortic arch thrombus involving the left common carotid artery complicated with ischemic stroke associated with cocaine use.

BACKGROUND: Floating aortic thrombi (FLOAT) are rare, with very few cases attributed to cocaine use. We report a new case of FLOAT involving the left common carotid artery due to cocaine use, for the first time, complicated with acute ischemic stroke. METHODS: We present in detail our case report, and then, a literature search in PubMed and Scopus was performed up to March 20, 2022, to review the reported cases of aortic thrombus associated with cocaine use. RESULTS: A 39-year-old man with a history of smoking and daily cocaine use was admitted to our stroke unit for acute left-hemispheric symptoms due to carotid-Sylvian occlusion. CT angiography of the supra-aortic trunks showed FLOAT involving the left common carotid artery. The thrombus was removed successfully by endovascular thrombectomy with recanalization of carotid-Sylvian occlusion. Our literature search yielded seven reported cases of aortic thrombus due to cocaine use revealed by lower limb ischemia (3 patients), renal infarction (1 patient), abdominal pain (1 patient), bowel ischemia (1 patient), and lower limb ischemia with renal infarction (1 patient). CONCLUSION: Aortic thrombus should be suspected in patients without overt cardiovascular risk factors but with a recent history of cocaine use who presents with acute ischemic stroke.

Functional Outcome, Recanalization, and Hemorrhage Rates After Large Vessel Occlusion Stroke Treated With Tenecteplase Before Thrombectomy.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To investigate in routine care the efficacy and safety of IV thrombolysis (IVT) with tenecteplase prior to mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in patients with large vessel occlusion acute ischemic strokes (LVO-AIS), either secondarily transferred after IVT or directly admitted to a comprehensive stroke center (CSC). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed clinical and procedural data of patients treated with 0.25 mg/kg tenecteplase within 270 minutes of LVO-AIS who underwent brain angiography. The main outcome was 3-month functional independence (modified Rankin Scale score ≤2). Recanalization (revised Treatment in Cerebral Ischemia score 2b-3) was evaluated before (pre-MT) and after MT (final). RESULTS: We included 588 patients (median age 75 years [interquartile range (IQR) 61-84]; 315 women [54%]; median NIH Stroke Scale score 16 [IQR 10-20]), of whom 520 (88%) were secondarily transferred after IVT. Functional independence occurred in 47% (n = 269/570; 95% confidence interval [CI] 43.0-51.4) of patients. Pre-MT recanalization occurred in 120 patients (20.4%; 95% CI 17.2-23.9), at a similar rate across treatment paradigms (direct admission, n = 14/68 [20.6%]; secondary transfer, n = 106/520 [20.4%]; p > 0.99) despite a shorter median IVT to puncture time in directly admitted patients (38 [IQR 23-55] vs 86 [IQR 70-110] minutes; p < 0.001). Final recanalization was achieved in 492 patients (83.7%; 95%CI 80.4-86.6). Symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage occurred in 2.5% of patients (n = 14/567; 95% CI 1.4-4.1). DISCUSSIONS: Tenecteplase before MT is safe, effective, and achieves a fast recanalization in everyday practice in patients secondarily transferred or directly admitted to a CSC, in line with published results. These findings should encourage its wider use in bridging therapy. CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE: This study provides Class IV evidence that tenecteplase within 270 minutes of LVO-AIS increases the probability of functional independence.

Reperfusion therapy for acute ischemic stroke in older people: An observational real-life study.

BACKGROUND: While randomized clinical trials have shown the benefit of thrombolysis and endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS), we aimed to describe in a real-life study the differences between older (>80 years old) and younger patients treated for AIS. METHODS: Thousand patients treated with thrombolysis and/or EVT were consecutively included in a prospective monocentric database (admitted from December 2015 to May 2019 in our comprehensive stroke center). Demographic data with detailed history, baseline physical examinations and treatments, laboratory and imaging data, prestroke functional status, and outcome 3 months after stroke were analyzed. RESULTS: Older patients (n = 357) had more baseline comorbidities and lower levels of prestroke independence (modified Rankin scale ≤2; 67.2% vs. 96.1%) and more severe strokes (median National Institute of Health Stroke Score [NIHSS] 15 vs. 12; p < 0.001) than younger patients (n = 643). There was no difference in the reperfusion treatments used or treatment timelines. In older patients, good functional status at 3 months was less common (29.7% vs. 61.3%) and mortality was higher (37.1% vs. 11.4%) than in younger patients. Younger age was independently associated with better prognosis (odds ratio [OR] 0.37, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.20-0.67; p = 0.001) and lower mortality (OR 4.38, 95% CI: 2.11-9.09; p < 0.001). Among older adults, features associated with good outcome at 3 months were age (OR 0.89, 95% CI: 0.81-0.97; p = 0.01), initial NIHSS (OR 0.89, 95% CI: 0.83-0.94; p < 0.0001), and absence of severe leukoaraiosis, anticoagulant treatment, and symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage following reperfusion therapy (respectively, OR 0.42, 95% CI: 0.19-0.93; p = 0.03; OR = 0.07, 95% CI: 0.01-0.70; p = 0.02; and OR = 0.07, 95% CI: 0.01-0.61; p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Although reperfusion therapy was less successful in older patients, these patients may benefit from acute recanalization despite their age. With an increasing older adult population, high-quality prospective studies are still required to better predict functional outcome and clarify the criteria that would allow better selection of appropriate treatment.

Stroke Prevention by Anticoagulants in Daily Practice Depending on Atrial Fibrillation Pattern and Clinical Risk Factors.

Background and Purpose: The objective of the study was to assess the effectiveness of individual direct oral anticoagulants versus vitamin K antagonists for primary prevention of stroke (ischemic and hemorrhagic) in routine clinical practice in patients with various clinical risk factors depending on their atrial fibrillation (AF) patterns. Methods: A nested case-referent study was conducted using data from 2 national registries of patients with stroke and AF. Stroke cases with previous history of AF were matched to up to 2 randomly selected referent patients with AF and no stroke. The association of individual anticoagulant use with ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke was studied in patients with or without permanent AF using multivariable conditional logistic models, controlled for clinically significant risk factors and multiple other cardiovascular risk factors. Results: In total, 2586 stroke cases with previous AF and 4810 nonstroke referent patients with AF were retained for the study. Direct oral anticoagulant users had lower odds of stroke of any type than vitamin K antagonist users: the adjusted-matched OR for ischemic stroke were 0.70 (95% CI, 0.50­0.98) for dabigatran, 0.68 (95% CI, 0.53­0.86) for rivaroxaban, and 0.73 (95% CI, 0.52­1.02) for apixaban while for hemorrhagic stroke they were 0.31 (95% CI, 0.14­0.68), 0.64 (95% CI, 0.39­1.06), and 0.70 (95% CI, 0.33­1.49), respectively. The effects of individual direct oral anticoagulants relative to vitamin K antagonists were similar in permanent AF and nonpermanent AF patients. Conclusions: Similar results were observed for each direct oral anticoagulant in real life as those observed in the pivotal clinical trials. The pattern of AF did not affect the outcome.

Stroke Recurrence in First-Ever Symptomatic Carotid Web: A Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Carotid web (CaW) is an intimal variant of fibromuscular dysplasia responsible for ipsilateral cerebral ischemic events (CIE). Symptomatic CaW likely has a high risk of recurrent CIE, but no salient prospective data are available. We aimed to assess recurrence rate and its predictors after a first-ever CIE. METHODS: Consecutive Afro-Caribbean patients who had cryptogenic first-ever CIEs (ischemic stroke [IS] or transient ischemic attack [TIA]) associated with ipsilateral CaW were included in this multicenter observational cohort study. The follow-up (January 2008 to March 2019) focused on CIE recurrences. Kaplan-Meier method assessed rates of recurrences and Cox proportional hazards regression analyzed risk factors. RESULTS: Ninety-two patients (79 first-ever ISs and 13 TIAs; mean age±standard deviation, 49.8±9.9 years; 52 [56.5%] women) were included. During a mean follow-up of 50.5±29.6 months, 19 (20.7%) patients experienced recurrent ipsilateral CIEs (16 ISs and three TIAs). Of 23 patients receiving surgery/stenting treatment, no recurrence occurred after the intervention (median follow-up, 39.8 months [interquartile range, 27.6 to 72.4]). Under medical treatment alone, the annual recurrent CIE rate was 6.9%, and the cumulative rate was 4.4% at 30-day, 10.8% at 1-year, 19.8% at 2-year, 23.2% at 3-year, and 27.3% at 5-year. Presence of silent cerebral infarctions was the only independent risk factor of CIE recurrences (hazard ratio, 6.99; 95% confidence interval, 2.4 to 20.4; P=0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Under medical treatment alone, symptomatic CaW was associated with a high rate of recurrence that reached 27.3% at 5-year. Surgery/stenting seems to be efficient, and randomized control trials are required to confirm the benefit of these interventions.

Isolated cerebellar nodulus infarction: Two case reports and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Isolated cerebellar nodulus infarction (ICNI) is rare and has great clinical similarity with acute peripheral vestibulopathy (APV), from which it is difficult to distinguish. We report two cases of ICNI followed by a literature review to identify the discriminant clinical elements that differentiate ICNI from APV. METHODS: We describe in detail our 2 cases. Besides, a literature search in Medline via PubMed and Scopus was performed up to May 17, 2020. Clinical characteristics, mainly of well-described cases, were extracted and analyzed. RESULTS: Our search yielded 43 total publications, among which 13 were selected, including 23 patients. Spontaneous or positional rotatory vertigo with unidirectional spontaneous horizontal nystagmus, associated with the postural imbalance and unilateral lateropulsion or fall on Romberg's test, was the most common clinical picture. According to our literature review, the discriminant clinical elements which differentiate ICNI from APV were direction-changing gaze-evoked nystagmus, bilateral lateropulsion or fall on Romberg's test, and normal horizontal head impulse test. Our two patients reported a positional fleeting abnormal visual perception of spatial orientation of objects. We proposed this symptom as a discriminant clinical element. CONCLUSION: The ICNI constitutes a difficult differential diagnosis of APV. Through our two patients reported here, we proposed a supplementary discriminant symptom helpful for the clinical diagnosis.

Decision-Making Process for the Management of Acute Stroke in Patients on Oral Anticoagulant: From Guidelines to Clinical Routine.

Background: The occurrence of both ischaemic (IS) and haemorrhagic stroke in patients on anticoagulation is a major issue due to the frequency of their prescriptions in westernised countries and the expected impact of anticoagulant activity on recanalization during an IS or on the outcomes associated with intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH). Several guidelines are available but sometimes differ in their conclusions or regarding specific issues, and their application in routine emergency settings may be limited by particular individual issues or heterogeneous local specificities. Methods: Based on the current guidelines and additional published data, the algorithms proposed in this paper aim to help the decision-making process regarding stroke management in the setting of concurrent anticoagulants by addressing specific clinical situations based on clinical variables commonly encountered in real-world practise. Results: For patients on non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants, reversion can be achieved with specific antidotes, but only idarucizumab, the specific dabigatran antidote, is indicated in both IS and ICH. Due to the low risk of a prothrombotic effect, idarucizumab can be immediately used in IS patients eligible for thrombolysis before the dabigatran concentration is known. To optimise ICH management, the time since symptom onset, with thresholds proposed at 6 and 9 hours based on the expected timing of haematoma expansion, could also to be taken into account. Conclusions: Anticoagulant reversal in patients presenting with a stroke remains a major issue, and algorithms based on a step-by-step approach may be useful for clinical practise. Real-life studies strongly support the benefits of idarucizumab availability in stroke units and emergency departments.

Effect of In-Hospital Remote Ischemic Perconditioning on Brain Infarction Growth and Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke: The RESCUE BRAIN Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Treatment with remote ischemic perconditioning has been reported to reduce brain infarction volume in animal models of stroke. Whether this neuroprotective effect was observed in patients with acute ischemic stroke remains unknown. Objective: To determine whether treatment with remote ischemic perconditioning administered to the leg of patients with acute ischemic stroke can reduce brain infarction volume growth. Design, Setting, and Participants: This proof-of-concept multicenter prospective randomized open-label with blinded end point clinical trial was performed from January 12, 2015, to May 2, 2018. Patients were recruited from 11 stroke centers in France. Of the 188 patients who received magnetic resonance imaging within 6 hours of symptom onset and were confirmed to have carotid ischemic stroke, 93 were randomized to receive treatment with lower-limb remote ischemic perconditioning in addition to standard care (the intervention group), and 95 were randomized to receive standard care alone (the control group). Interventions: Randomization on a 1:1 ratio to receive treatment with remote ischemic perconditioning (4 cycles of 5-minute inflations and 5-minute deflations to the thigh to 110 mm Hg above systolic blood pressure) in addition to standard care or standard care alone. Main Outcomes and Measures: The change in brain infarction volume growth between baseline and 24 hours, measured by a diffusion-weighted sequence of magnetic resonance imaging scans of the brain. Results: A total of 188 patients (mean [SD] age, 67.2 [15.7] years; 98 men [52.1%]) were included in this intention-to-treat analysis. At hospital admission, the median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score was 10 (interquartile range [IQR], 6-16) and the median brain infarction volume was 11.4 cm3 (IQR, 3.6-35.8 cm3); 164 patients (87.2%) received intravenous thrombolysis, and 64 patients (34.0%) underwent mechanical thrombectomy. The median increase in brain infarction growth was 0.30 cm3 (IQR, 0.11-0.48 cm3) in the intervention group and 0.37 cm3 (IQR, 0.19-0.55 cm3) in the control group (mean between-group difference on loge-transformed change, -0.07; 95% CI, -0.33 to 0.18; P = .57). An excellent outcome (defined as a score of 0-1 on the 90-day modified Rankin Scale or a score equal to the prestroke modified Rankin Scale score) was observed in 46 of 90 patients (51.1%) in the intervention group and 37 of 91 patients (40.7%) in the control group (P = .12). No significant differences in 90-day mortality were observed between the intervention and control groups (14 of 90 patients; Kaplan-Meier estimate, 15.8% vs 10 of 91 patients; Kaplan-Meier estimate, 10.4%, respectively; P = .45) or with symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (4 of 88 patients [4.5%] in both groups; P = .97). Conclusions and Relevance: In this study, treatment with remote ischemic perconditioning, during or after reperfusion therapies, had no significant effect on brain infarction volume growth at 24 hours after symptom onset. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02189928.

Acute ischemic stroke in adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: Adolescence represents a transition period between childhood and adulthood, and only limited information exists about stroke characteristics in this population. Our aim was to describe the clinical and neuroradiologic features, etiologies, initial management, and outcome of ischemic stroke in adolescents. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study evaluated all consecutive patients 10 to 18 years with a first-ever ischemic stroke hospitalized between 2007 and 2017 in 10 French academic centers representing a population of ≈10 million. Extracted data from the national database served as validation. RESULTS: A total of 60 patients were included (53% male, median age 15.2 years). Diagnosis at first medical contact was misevaluated in 36%, more frequently in posterior than anterior circulation strokes (55% vs 20% respectively, odds ratio 4.8, 95% confidence interval 1.41-16.40, p = 0.01). Recanalization treatment rate was high (n = 19, 32%): IV thrombolysis (17%), endovascular therapy (11.7%), or both IV and intra-arterial thrombolysis (3.3%); safety was good (only 1 asymptomatic hemorrhagic transformation). Despite thorough etiologic workup, 50% of strokes remained cryptogenic. The most common determined etiologies were cardioembolism (15%), vasculitis and autoimmune disorders (12%, occurring exclusively in female patients), and arterial dissections (10%, exclusively in male patients). Recurrent ischemic cerebrovascular events occurred in 12% (median follow-up 19 months). Recurrence rate was 50% in patients with identified vasculopathy but 0% after cryptogenic stroke. Functional outcome was favorable (Rankin Scale score 0-2 at day 90) in 80% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: Ischemic strokes in adolescents harbor both pediatric and adult features, emphasizing the need for multidisciplinary collaboration in their management. Recanalization treatments appear feasible and safe.

Reversal of Vitamin K Antagonist Therapy Before Thrombolysis for Acute Ischemic Stroke.

Background and Purpose- Acute ischemic strokes under vitamin K antagonist (VKA) treatment are not uncommon, but intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) is not recommended for international normalized ratio (INR) >1.7 because of the excess bleeding risk. However, VKA-induced anticoagulation can be easily reversed by IV infusions of 4-factor prothrombin complex concentrate bolus and vitamin K. Our pilot study aimed to determine whether IVT immediately after anticoagulation reversal could be feasible and safe in acute ischemic stroke patients under VKA with INR >1.7. Methods- Consecutive acute ischemic stroke patients, otherwise eligible for IVT except for VKA intake and INR >1.7, were given IVT after infusing 4-factor prothrombin complex concentrate and vitamin K. Safety and efficacy were assessed clinically and by cerebral imaging at 24 hours. Results- Twenty-six patients (age, 77.8±12.8 years; atrial fibrillation, 84.6%; initial National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, 11.6±5.6) were prospectively included. INR values were 2.3±0.6 initially and 1.3±0.2, 5 minutes postreversal. No symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage or thrombotic events occurred during the first 3 days. One patient developed major systemic hemorrhoidal bleeding that required blood transfusion; 61.5% of the patients were independent (modified Rankin Scale score of ≤2) at 3 months. Conclusions- A reversal strategy of 4-factor prothrombin complex concentrate bolus and vitamin K before IVT could be feasible and safe in acute ischemic stroke patients under VKA with INR >1.7. Well-designed, randomized controlled trials are warranted to confirm these preliminary findings.

Temporal trends in Human T-Lymphotropic virus 1 (HTLV-1) associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) incidence in Martinique over 25 years (1986-2010).

BACKGROUND: Human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) has been discovered in 1980 and has been linked to tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) in 1985 in Martinique. There is no data on HAM/TSP incidence trends. We report, in the present work, the temporal trends incidence of HAM/TSP in Martinique over 25 years. METHODS: Martinique is a Caribbean French West Indies island deserved by a unique Neurology Department involved in HAM/TSP diagnosis and management. A registry has been set up since 1986 and patients diagnosed for a HAM/TSP were prospectively registered. Only patients with a definite HAM/TSP onset between 1986 and 2010 were included in the present study. The 25-year study time was stratified in five-year periods. Crude incidence rates with 95% confidence interval (95%CI) were calculated using Poisson distribution for each period. Age-standardized rates were calculated using the direct method and the Martinique population census of 1990 as reference. Standardized incidence rate ratios with 95% CIs and P trends were assessed from simple Poisson regression models. Number of HTLV-1 infection among first-time blood donors was retrospectively collected from the central computer data system of the Martinique blood bank. The HTLV-1 seroprevalence into this population has been calculated for four 5-year periods between 1996 and 2015. RESULTS: Overall, 153 patients were identified (mean age at onset, 53+/-13.1 years; female:male ratio, 4:1). Crude HAM/TSP incidence rates per 100,000 per 5 years (95%CI) in 1986-1990, 1991-1995, 1996-2000, 2001-2005 and 2006-2010 periods were 10.01 (6.78-13.28), 13.02 (9.34-16.70), 11.54 (8.13-14.95), 4.27 (2.24-6.28) and 2.03 (0.62-3.43). Age-standardized 5-year incidence rates significantly decreased by 69% and 87% in 2001-2005 and 2006-2010 study periods. Patients characteristics did not differ regarding 1986-2000 and 2001-2010 onset periods. Between 1996-2000 and 2011-2015 study periods, the HTLV-1 seroprevalence significantly decreased by 63%. CONCLUSION: Martinique faces a sudden and rapid decline of HAM/TSP incidence from 2001 in comparison to 1986-2000 periods. Reduction of HTLV-1 seroprevalence, that may result from transmission prevention strategy, could account for HAM/TSP incidence decrease.