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Introduction: Patients with atrial fibrillation-related stroke (AF-stroke) are prone to developing rapid ventricular response (RVR). We investigated whether RVR is associated with initial stroke severity, early neurological deterioration (END) and poor outcome at 3 months. Methods: We reviewed patients who had AF-stroke between January 2017 and March 2022. RVR was defined as having heart rate >100 beats per minute on initial electrocardiogram. Neurological deficit was evaluated with National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score at admission. END was defined as increase of ≥2 in total NIHSS score or ≥1 in motor NIHSS score within first 72 h. Functional outcome was score on modified Rankin Scale at 3 months. Mediation analysis was performed to examine potential causal chain in which initial stroke severity may mediate relationship between RVR and functional outcome. Results: We studied 568 AF-stroke patients, among whom 86 (15.1%) had RVR. Patients with RVR had higher initial NIHSS score (p < 0.001) and poor outcome at 3 months (p = 0.004) than those without RVR. The presence of RVR [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 2.13; p = 0.013] was associated with initial stroke severity, but not with END and functional outcome. Otherwise, initial stroke severity [aOR = 1.27; p = <0.001] was significantly associated with functional outcome. Initial stroke severity as a mediator explained 58% of relationship between RVR and poor outcome at 3 months. Conclusion: In patients with AF-stroke, RVR was independently associated with initial stroke severity but not with END and functional outcome. Initial stroke severity mediated considerable proportion of association between RVR and functional outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: Endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) has benefits in selected patients 6–24 h after stroke onset. However, the response to EVT >24 h after stroke onset is still unclear. We compared the early response to EVT in patients with different time windows. Methods: Patients who underwent EVT in an emergency setting were enrolled and categorized according to when EVT was performed: within 6 (early), 6–24 (late), and >24 h (very late) after stroke onset. Early neurological improvement (ENI) and deterioration (END) were defined as improvement and worsening, respectively, of National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score by ≥4 points after EVT. The three groups' clinical characteristics and response to EVT were compared. We also investigated factors associated with ENI and END. Results: During study period, 274 patients underwent EVT (109 early, 104 late, and 61 very late). Patients who underwent EVT very late were younger (p = 0.007), had smaller ischemic cores, and had lower initial NIHSS scores (8 ± 5) than those who underwent EVT early (14 ± 6) and late (13 ± 7; p < 0.001). Stroke mechanisms also differed according to the time window (p < 0.001): cardioembolism was more common after early EVT, whereas large-artery atherosclerosis was more prevalent among patients who underwent EVT very late. ENI was significantly more common after early (60.6%) and late EVT (51.0%) than after very late EVT (29.5%; p = 0.001); however, rates of END did not differ (11.0%, 13.5%, and 4.9%, respectively). ENI was independently associated with male, higher NIHSS score, and early and late EVT. END was associated with failure of recanalization. Conclusions: ENI was more observed and associated with early and late EVT. Highly selected patients receiving very late EVT may not benefit from ENI but may still have a chance to prevent END. The occurrence of END was associated not with time window but with failure of recanalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Clinical-diffusion mismatch (CDM) and perfusion-diffusion mismatch (PDM) are used to select patients for endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) in the late-window period. As CDM well reflects true penumbra, we hypothesized that patients with CDM and PDM would respond better to EVT than those with PDM only at the late-window period. Methods: Acute ischemic stroke patients who received EVT 6–24 h after stroke onset were included. PDM (perfusion-/diffusion-weighted image (DWI) lesion volume >1.8) was used to select candidates for EVT in this time-period in our center. CDM was defined according to the DAWN trial criteria. Response to EVT was compared between patients with and without CDM. Early neurological improvement (ENI) was defined as improvement >4 points on National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score 1 day after EVT. Multivariable analysis was performed to investigate independent factors associated with ENI. The correlation between DWI lesion volume and NIHSS score was investigated in those with and without CDM. Results: Among 94 patients enrolled, all patients had PDM and 44 (46.3%) had CDM. Forty-eight patients (51.1%) showed ENI. The prevalence of hypertension, initial NIHSS score, improvement in NIHSS score after EVT, and prevalence of ENI were greater in patients with CDM than those without. ENI was independently associated with onset-to-door time (odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 0.998 [0.997–1.000]; p = 0.042), complete recanalization (23.912 [2.238–255.489]; p = 0.009), initial NIHSS score (1.180 [1.012–1.377]; p = 0.034), and the presence of CDM (5.160 [1.448–18.386]; p = 0.011). The correlation between DWI lesion volume and initial NIHSS score was strong in patients without CDM (r = 0.731) but only moderate in patients with CDM (r = 0.355). Conclusion: Patients with both CDM and PDM had a better response to late-window EVT than those with PDM only. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Genetic variants may play a role in determining the location of cerebral atherosclerosis. We aimed to investigate the association between RNF213, MMP2, and genetic polymorphisms linked to vascular tortuosity with the location of cerebral arterial atherosclerosis. Methods: A prospective case-control study was conducted on patients with ischemic stroke and age- and sex-matched stroke-free controls. The stroke patients were categorized into those with intracranial artery atherosclerosis (ICAS), extracranial artery atherosclerosis (ECAS), and small vessel occlusion (SVO). Six single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) including rs2118181 (FBN1), rs2179357 (SLC2A10), rs1036095 (TGFBR2), rs243865 (MMP2), rs1800470 (TGFB1), and rs112735431 (RNF213) were analyzed with the TaqMan Genotyping Assay, and the distribution of genotypes across groups was compared. Results: None of the 6 SNPs were associated with stroke on comparing the 449 stroke patients (71 with ECAS, 169 with ICAS, and 209 with SVO) to the 447 controls. In the subgroup analysis, the adjusted odds ratios (aORs) for age and sex indicated a significant association between rs112735431 and ICAS in the allele comparison analysis and in the additive and dominant model analyses. rs112735431 was associated with anterior circulation involvement and increased burden of cerebral atherosclerosis. rs2179357 was significantly associated with ICAS in the recessive model analysis, and rs1800470 was significantly associated with ECAS in the recessive model analysis when compared to controls. Conclusion: rs112735431 was associated with ICAS and increased atherosclerosis burden in Korean stroke patients. Further studies are needed to elucidate the role of rs112735431 and to confirm the association of rs2179357 and rs1800470 with cerebral atherosclerosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the previous prospective observational study, we found that cerebral atherosclerosis is an independent predictor of acute stroke after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). However, it is unknown whether intracranial cerebral atherosclerosis (ICAS) is important as much as extracranial cerebral atherosclerosis (ECAS) in estimating the risk of post-CABG adverse events. Extending the previous study, we aimed to investigate the immediate and long-term prognostic value of the location of cerebral atherosclerosis in CABG patients. Methods: This follow-up study of previously reported prospective cohort included 1,367 consecutive patients who received CABG between 2004 and 2007. All patients underwent preoperative magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) to assess intracranial and ECAS, both defined by significant steno-occlusion (≥50%). Participants were classified into 4 groups according to the location of cerebral atherosclerosis: no cerebral atherosclerosis, ECAS only, ICAS only, and ECAS + ICAS. Post-CABG stroke within 14 days (immediate outcome) and mortality (long-term outcome) following CABG were compared between the groups. Survival data for all participants through June 2016 were obtained from the Korean National Registry of Vital Statistics. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) of post-CABG stroke and mortality; patients lacking cerebral atherosclerosis were defined as the reference group. Results: The median follow-up duration after CABG was 9.2 years (interquartile range 8.4–10.2 years). Of the participants, 278 (20.3%) patients had ICAS only, while 269 (19.7%) and 347 (25.4%) showed ECAS only and ECAS + ICAS, respectively, in their preoperative MRA. Having ICAS only (HR 5.07; 95% CI 1.37–18.75; p = 0.015) and having ECAS + ICAS (HR 8.43; 95% CI, 2.48–28.61; p = 0.001) independently predicted the immediate stroke, whereas being with ECAS only did not (HR 1.71; 95% CI 0.35–8.50; p = 0.509). Conversely, ICAS-only status was not independently associated with long-term mortality (HR 1.22; 95% CI 0.90–1.65; p = 0.207), whereas ECAS-only status (HR 1.42; 95% CI 1.05–1.90; p = 0.021) and ECAS + ICAS status (HR 1.58; 95% CI 1.20–2.07; p = 0.001) showed independent associations. Conclusions: Over 10 years of follow-up, cerebral atherosclerosis significantly associated with the development of adverse outcomes after CABG. The prognostic value of ICAS might be different from that of ECAS; immediate post-CABG stroke was more closely associated with ICAS, whereas there was a closer association between long-term post-CABG mortality and ECAS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Clinical syndromes secondary to infarcts in the distal basilar artery (BA) area have been described as "top of the basilar" (TOB) syndrome. However, in the era of advanced imaging technology, it has been realized that the clinical and imaging features are quite diverse in patients with distal BA occlusion. The aim of the present study was to investigate the patterns and clinical outcomes of TOB assessed with modern images and categorize TOBs accordingly. Additionally, we examined the possible influence of the posterior communicating artery (PcoA) on the patterns of TOB. Methods: Patients with distal BA occlusion on magnetic resonance angiography were categorized as TOB-A, and those with multiple lesions in the distal BA territory on diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging as TOB-L. Patients with angiographically and lesion distribution-defined TOB were classified as having TOB-A&L; those with angiographically defined TOB as having TOB-A without TOB-L; and those with lesion distribution-defined TOB as having TOB-L without TOB-A. The PcoA was categorized as "textbook-type" (good P1) and "fetal-type" (absent P1). Factors associated with unfavorable short-term outcomes (modified Rankin Scale 5–6 at discharge), and 1-year and long-term mortalities, were assessed. Results: Of 1,466 patients with ischemic stroke in the posterior circulation who were admitted to Asan Medical Center within 24 h of symptom onset, 124 (8.5%) had TOB, including 45 with TOB-A&L, 44 with TOB-A, and 35 with TOB-L. NIHSS scores (21 [9.5–26] vs. 6 [3–11.5] vs. 6 [3–9]; p < 0.01) and rates of motor deficit (75.6 vs. 54.5 vs. 34.4%; p < 0.01), concomitant pontine lesions (17.8 vs. 25.0 vs. 2.9%; p < 0.01), PcoA presence (44.4 vs. 68.2 vs. 25.7%; p < 0.01), and unfavorable short-term outcomes (62.2 vs. 25.0 vs. 14.3%; p < 0.01) differed significantly in the 3 patient groups. Multivariate analysis showed that textbook-type PcoA was independently associated with a lower frequency of unfavorable short-term outcomes (OR 0.15, 95% CI 0.03–0.70). Reperfusion therapy (hazard ratio [HR] 0.25, 95% CI 0.07–0.89) and the presence of textbook-type PcoA (HR 0.20, 95% CI 0.05–0.90) were associated with a lower 1-year mortality rate after stroke. Conclusion: Patterns and clinical outcomes of TOB vary and are affected by the hemodynamic status of the arterial system, such as BA recanalization and the presence of textbook-type PcoA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lateral medullary infarction (LMI) is not an uncommon disease. Although lesions are usually restricted to the lateral medullary area, some patients have additional infarcts in other parts of the brain. The clinical features and prognosis of isolated LMI (pure LMI, LMIpr) have been investigated. However, it remains unclear whether clinical characteristics, prognosis and factors associated with prognosis differ between patients with LMIpr and those with additional lesions (LMI plus, LMIpl). Methods: Patients with LMI identified by MRI were enrolled. The demographic and clinical characteristics, in-hospital outcome (intensive care unit [ICU] admission, pneumonia and modified Rankin scale [mRS] at discharge), and long-term residual symptoms (vertigo/dizziness, sensory disturbances, dysphagia) and outcomes (occurrence of stroke, acute coronary syndrome [ACS], death, and mRS at follow-up) were compared between LMIpr and LMIpl patients. Factors associated with poor functional outcome (mRS 2–6) at the follow-up were analyzed. Results: Among 248 LMI patients, 161 (64.9%) had LMIpr and 87 (35.1%) had LMIpl. During admission, patients with LMIpl more frequently experienced ICU care, pneumonia and had a higher discharge mRS (3 vs. 2; p < 0.001) than LMIpr patients. The occurrence of stroke, ACS, frequency of death and functional outcome was not different during follow-up. However, residual neurologic symptoms such as dizziness (p = 0.002), dysphagia (p = 0.04) and sensory symptoms (p < 0.001) were more frequent in LMIpr than in LMIpl patients. In LMIpr patients, the rostral location of LMI was associated with poor functional outcome (p = 0.041), whereas in LMIpl patients, the presence of medial posterior-inferior cerebellar artery lesion was associated with good functional outcome (p = 0.030). Conclusion: Although the short-term outcome is poorer in LMIpl than LMIpr patients, long-term residual symptoms are more common in LMIpr patients. The location of the LMI and extra-medullary lesion affects the long-term functional outcome of LMIpr and LMIpl patients respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The stroke mechanism for anterolateral pontine infarction (ALPI) is poorly understood. We aimed to investigate the perforator arteries relevant to ALPI using highresolution MRI (HR-MRI). Methods: Of 62 patients with ALPI who were admitted to the Asan Medical Center, 13 patients agreed to participate in this study. We used HR-MRI with a 3-Tesla scanner and assessed the perforating branches directly connected with the infarcted area. Results: Perforating arteries penetrating ALPI were identified in all 13 patients. Perforators arising from the basilar artery (BA) were involved in the stroke mechanism in 9 patients, the superior cerebellar artery (SCA) perforator in 1 patient, and the anterior inferior cerebellar artery perforator in 1 patient. In 2 patients, both BA and SCA perforators were involved. Conclusions: Using 3-Tesla HR-MRI may allow visualization of the perforating branches presumably related to ALPI. Identification of the relevant cerebral perforating arteries may help us to understand the stroke mechanism in patients with posterior circulation territory infarction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although size is one of the strongest predictors, small aneurysms often rupture. We compared the characteristics of small and large ruptured intracranial aneurysms (RIAs) according to their location to find the factors associated with small RIAs in each location. Methods: Patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage due to saccular RIAs were consecutively enrolled. The sizes were dichotomized as small (<5 mm) or large, and the location was classified as paraclinoid- distal internal carotid artery, sidewalls of anterior or middle cerebral artery (MCA; sidewall), MCA-bifurcation, anterior or posterior communicating artery (Acom or Pcom, respectively), and posterior circulation RIAs. Independent factors associated with small RIAs compared to large RIAs were investigated in each location. Results: Small RIAs were observed in 384 of 791 patients (48.5%), and were most commonly located at Acom (17.1%) followed by Pcom (9.0%) and sidewalls (7.2%). Female sex (OR 3.038; 95% CI 2.099-4.395), young age (OR 0.971; 95% CI 0.958-0.985), hypertension (OR 1.412; 95% CI 1.033-1.930) and multiple aneurysms (OR 1.942; 95% CI 1.335-2.824) were associated with small RIAs. By location, sidewall aneurysms (OR 2.183; 95% CI 1.049-4.542) were associated with small RIAs, whereas MCA-bifurcation (OR 0.318; 95% CI 0.168-0.599) and Pcom aneurysms (OR 0.511; 95% CI 0.277-0.944) were associated with large RIAs. The presence of multiple aneurysms (OR 4.69; 95% CI 1.45-21.19) was associated with small RIAs at sidewalls, and young age, female sex, hypertension and the presence of bilateral A1 (OR 1.85; 95% CI 1.09-3.13) were associated with small RIAs at Acom. Acom RIAs with bilateral A1 was smaller than those with unilateral A1 (4.7 ± 2.1 vs. 5.8 ± 2.6 mm; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Intracranial aneurysms which rupture below 5 mm are not uncommon, and the factors associated with small-sized RIAs differ according to location. Sidewall aneurysms, with multiple aneurysms and Acom aneurysms with bilateral A1 may rupture even at small size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HR-MRI) has been used as a strong imaging method for diagnosing intracranial vertebral artery dissection (IVAD), the diagnosis is sometimes challenging because a dissection has geometric changes in the natural course. The radiologic features may change or disappear over time, which makes the diagnosis confusing. Our study was to present radiological findings according to the stages in spontaneous and unruptured, IVAD on 3T HR-MRI and to guide the age estimation of IVAD with the distinguishing findings according to the stages. Methods: From January 2011 to July 2014, the 41 vertebral arteries (M:F = 18: 12; age range 32-67 years) were retrospectively enrolled. Spontaneous, unruptured IVAD was diagnosed if it had a clear onset based on clinical and radiological findings. The stages were classified as acute (0-3 days), early subacute (3-10 days), late subacute (10-60 days) and chronic stage (>60 days; recovery and nonrecovery groups) according to the time intervals from symptom onset, based on the prior published studies. HR-MR findings were assessed and compared in the intimal flap, double lumen, aneurysmal dilatation (maximal outer diameter, maximal wall thickness, wall thickness index and remodeling index), intramural hematoma (relative signal intensity) and vessel wall enhancement according to the stages with qualitative and quantitative methods. Two radiologists analyzed the HR-MR findings with consensus reading. Results: IVAD was classified into acute (n = 6), early subacute (n = 8), late subacute (n = 16) and chronic (n = 11) stages. HR-MR dissection findings such as intimal flap, double lumen, aneurysmal dilatation and intramural hematoma significantly decreased from the earlier stages to the chronic stage (p < 0.05). The quantitative indices in aneurysmal dilatation and the relative signal intensity of intramural hematoma showed significant higher values in the earlier stages followed by a significant decrease in the chronic stage recovery group (p < 0.05). The degree of vessel wall enhancement was higher in the earlier stage and decreased in the chronic stage (p < 0.05), but mild vessel wall enhancement was identified 900 days after symptom onset. Conclusion: The 3T HR-MRI reveals the vessel wall characteristics and provides distinguishing findings between earlier stages and the chronic stage in spontaneous and unruptured IVAD. Characterization of these radiological findings according to stages may assist with the age estimation of the dissection and may help to understand IVAD as a whole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The geometric properties of the parental artery affect the development of local atherosclerosis and perforator infarction. In this study, we aimed at investigating the association between vascular geometry of the posterior cerebral artery (PCA) and the development of isolated lateral thalamic infarction (LTI), the most frequent type of thalamic infarction. Methods: The geometric properties of the corresponding PCA in LTI patients were assessed and they include the diameters of the distal basilar artery (BA) and proximal PCA, distal BA - PCA angle, first PCA angle (angle between P1 and P2), and the presence of the posterior communicating artery (Pcom). These parameters obtained from the ipsilesional PCA were compared with the contralesional PCA and the corresponding PCA in age- and sex-matched controls. Results: Forty-five LTI patients were enrolled. The ipsilesional PCA in LTI patients demonstrated a greater ipsilesional P1 - P2 angle (81.4 ± 22.6 vs. 71.3 ± 23.2°, respectively; p = 0.04) and a higher prevalence of Pcom (42.2 vs. 13.3%; p = 0.002) when compared to control subjects. In comparison with the contralesional PCA, ipsilesional PCA demonstrated a smaller diameter, larger angle between P1 and P2 segment, and a higher prevalence of Pcom. The presence of hyperlipidemia (OR 3.548 (1.283-9.811); p = 0.02) and Pcom (OR 3.507 (1.104-11.135); p = 0.03) was a factor that was independently associated with LTI. Conclusions: Local hemodynamics in the PCA may be influenced by the P1 - P2 angle and the presence of Pcom, which are associated with the development of LTI. © 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]