Search

• We investigated the factors for silent brain infarcts (SBIs) during carotid stent. • We focused on the association between vessel diameter and embolic protection. • Larger distal normal vessel diameter increased the risk of SBIs in carotid stent. • The passable pore size might vary depending on the distal normal vessel diameter. Carotid artery stenting (CAS) has been the standard treatment for carotid stenosis because it is less invasive; however, the risk of periprocedural thromboembolism is high. We investigated the predictors for silent brain infarcts (SBIs), focusing on embolic protection in CAS. This study was single-center retrospective study, and we obtained baseline demographics and clinical, laboratory, and periprocedural variables of patients who underwent CAS. Also, methods used for embolic protection (no EPD, distal EPD, or proximal balloon guiding catheter) during CAS were obtained. Distal normal vessel diameter was defined as the diameter of cervical internal carotid artery where the artery wall becomes parallel. Diffusion-weighted imaging was performed before and after procedure to detect SBIs. The primary outcome was stented territory SBIs, and the secondary outcomes were any territories SBIs and stented territory SBIs in cases with EPD. A total of 196 CAS procedures with mean age 69.1 ± 9.9 years were included. After CAS, stented territory SBIs occurred in 53 (27.0 %) cases and any territories SBIs in 60 (30.6 %) cases. Univariable analyses revealed that distal normal vessel diameter (odds ratio = 1.71, 95 % confidence interval = 1.20–2.43, P = 0.003) was associated with the occurrence of stented territory SBIs after CAS. After adjusting for potential variables, larger distal normal vessel diameter (1.61 [1.10–2.36], P = 0.014) increased the occurrence of SBIs after CAS. Consistent results were obtained when the outcome was any territories SBIs or stented territory SBIs in cases with EPD. Distal normal vessel diameter was a predictor for the occurrence of SBI after CAS. The passable pore size of EPDs may vary depending on vessel diameter, and may impact the occurrence of SBIs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated whether changes in body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) are associated with cardiovascular risk in patients with NAFLD using a nationwide dataset. Using the National Health Insurance Service-Health Screening Cohort (NHIS-HEALS) data in Korea, a total of 19,057 subjects who underwent two consecutive medical check-ups (2009–2010 and 2011–2012) and who had a fatty-liver index (FLI) value of ≥ 60 were included in the analysis. Cardiovascular events were defined as the occurrence of stroke or transient ischemic attack, coronary heart disease, and cardiovascular death. After multivariable adjustment, the risk of cardiovascular events was significantly lower in subjects with decreases in both BMI and WC (HR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.69–0.99) and those with increased BMI and decreased WC (HR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.59–0.94) when compared with those who showed increases in both BMI and WC. The effect of cardiovascular risk reduction among the group with increased BMI but decreased WC was particulary pronounced among those who had metabolic syndrome during the second check-up (HR, 0.63; 95% CI 0.43–0.93, p for interaction 0.02). Changes in BMI and WC were significantly associated with cardiovascular risk in NAFLD patients. NAFLD patients with increased BMI and decreased WC had the lowest cardiometabolic risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the association between early recanalization degree after intravenous thrombolysis (IVT), occurrence of hemorrhagic transformation, and functional outcome. We also evaluated whether recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rTPA) dosing error could influence the outcome. Patients with ischemic stroke with major vessel occlusion (n = 256) who underwent IVT were included. Recanalization status (no recanalization, partial recanalization, and complete recanalization) was confirmed by subsequent magnetic resonance or conventional angiography. Association between early recanalization degree and favorable outcome (modified Rankin Scale score ≤2) was evaluated using logistic regression analysis. Early partial recanalization was achieved in 33 (12.9%), and complete recanalization in 7 (2.7%) patients. Patients with the highest quintile of rTPA dosage achieved complete recanalization more frequently than the lower four quintiles (8.0% vs 2.0%, P = 0.03). Hemorrhagic transformation tended to occur more frequently in patients with complete recanalization as compared with patients with partial recanalization (57.1% vs 21.2%, P = 0.15). The proportion of favorable outcome was significantly lower in patients with the highest quintile of rTPA dosage used as compared with the patients with lower four quintiles (40.8%, 57.0%, P = 0.04). In multivariable analysis, partial recanalization was significantly associated with favorable outcome (adjusted odds ratio, 3.15; 95% CI, 1.06–9.35), but complete recanalization was not. Early partial recanalization after IVT may be an indicator of favorable outcome with low occurrence of any hemorrhagic transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Propensity for lesion lateralization in atrial fibrillation-related cardiac embolic stroke (AF-stroke) remains controversial. In this study, we compared the hemispheric differences among patients with AF-stroke and identified factors associated with lesion laterality. We retrospectively reviewed patients with acute AF-stroke admitted from January, 2017 to March, 2022. Patients were grouped based on whether lesions were right or left hemispheric in the anterior circulation territory, based on diffusion-weighted imaging. Factors associated with right-side propensity were analyzed. Among 385 patients, the mean age was 74±11 years and 52.5 % were male. Right and left hemispheric lesions were observed in 189 (49.1 %) and 196 (50.9%) patients, respectively. In the multivariate analysis, enlarged left atrium (LA) (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]=1.03, 95% confidential interval [CI], 1.007–1.061; p=0.013) and single confluent lesion pattern (aOR= 1.55, 95% CI, 1.012–2.381; p=0.044) were associated with right hemispheric lesions. Enlarged LA and single confluent lesion pattern were strongly related to right-sided propensity in patients with AF-stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background There have been no prospective studies on the clinical features, etiologies, and outcome of transient ischemic attack (TIA) in Korea. The aim of this study was to identify variables that can discriminate TIA from TIA mimics. Also we evaluated the characteristic of TIA patients according to the presence of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) lesion. Methods Patients were categorized into TIA and TIA mimics according to the result of an initial workup. TIA patients were divided according to the presence of DWI lesions. Baseline demographics, risk factors, laboratory results, initial blood pressure, imaging findings, recurrence rate of TIA or stroke at 3 months, and initial neurologic manifestations were prospectively collected and compared. Results We evaluated a total of 252 patients (212 with TIA and 40 with TIA mimics). Steno-occlusion of the relevant artery (odds ratio [OR], 22.39; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.03-246.73) and cardioembolic risk (OR, 32.15; 95% CI, 1.12-922.97) were significantly associated with TIA. Amnesia (OR, .001; 95% CI, .00-.05) and consciousness disturbance (OR, .003; 95% CI, .00-.06) favored TIA mimics. Perfusion defect (OR, 5.56; 95% CI, 2.90-10.68) and cardioembolic risk (OR, 2.68; 95% CI, 1.14-6.32) were significantly associated with DWI lesion. Recurrence did not significantly differ according to the presence of a lesion on DWI (positive, 4.9%; negative, 7.8%; P = .41). Conclusion Steno-occlusive disease and cardioembolic risk were independently associated with TIA. Perfusion defect and cardioembolic risk predicted positive DWI lesion. The value of various imaging modalities for predicting TIA etiology needs further evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: Strategy for secondary prevention of ischemic stroke depends on the mechanism of stroke. The aim of this study was to compare the stroke mechanism according to the location and severity of middle cerebral artery (MCA) disease.Methods: We analyzed acute ischemic stroke patients within 7 days of onset with symptomatic MCA disease. The location of MCA disease was classified into proximal MCA M1 (pMCA) and distal MCA M1/proximal M2 (dMCA). The mechanism of stroke was categorized according to the pattern of ischemic lesion: local branch occlusion, artery-to-artery embolism/hemodynamic infarction, in situ-thrombosis, or a combined mechanism. The mechanism and imaging characteristics of stroke were compared according to the location and severity. The factors associated with the stroke mechanism were also investigated.Results: A symptomatic MCA disease was observed in 126 patients (74 pMCA and 52 dMCA). The mechanism of stroke differed according to the location (p < 0.001); the combined mechanism was most common in pMCA disease (54.1%), especially in those who presented with MCA occlusion and with a susceptible vessel sign. Artery-to-artery embolism/hemodynamic infarction was most common in dMCA disease (46.2%). A longer length of stenosis was observed in local branch occlusion than in other mechanisms (p = 0.04) and was an independent factor associated with local branch occlusion (OR=1.631, 95% CI=1.161-2.292; p = 0.005).Conclusions: The mechanism of stroke differed according to the location of MCA disease: occlusion caused by plaque rupture with combined mechanism of stroke type was predominant in pMCA. Longer length of stenosis was associated with local branch occlusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thromboelastography (TEG) is a useful for predicting hemorrhagic transformation, early neurological deterioration, and functional outcome after stroke. We aimed to investigate whether TEG value could also be useful in predicting functional outcome via various intraprocedural and postprocedural factors in patients with acute large vessel occlusive stroke who underwent intraarterial thrombectomy (IAT). Patients with ischemic stroke who underwent IAT between March 2018 and March 2020 at two tertiary hospitals were included. The association between reaction time (R) and functional outcome was evaluated. The primary outcome was the achievement of functional independence defined as the achievement of a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 0–2 at 3 months after the index stroke. Among a total of 160 patients (mean age, 70.6 ± 12.3 years; 103 [64.4 %] men), 79 (49.3 %) achieved functional independence at 3 months. R, both as a continuous (odds ratio [OR]: 1.45, 95 % confidence interval [95 % CI]: 1.09–1.92, P = 0.011) and dichotomized parameters (R < 5 min [OR: 0.37, 95 % CI: 0.16–0.82, P = 0.014]), were inversely associated with increased odds of achieving functional independence (mRS score 0–2) after multivariable analysis. The association was still consistent when the outcome was the achievement of disability free (mRS score 0–1) or mRS score analyzed as an ordinal variable. Decreased R, especially R < 5 min, was inversely associated with functional outcome pf stroke after EVT. • Thromboelastography (TEG) could provide the coagulation and fibrinolysis pathways. • We present a study of stroke outcomes after thrombectomy according to the reaction time (R). • Decreased R, especially R < 5 min, was inversely associated with stroke outcome after thrombectomy. • R can be a useful TEG parameter for predicting functional independence after thrombectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report 2 cases of central retinal artery occlusion with concomitant ipsilateral cerebral infarction after cosmetic facial injections and a literature review. The 2 patients were two healthy women, in which cosmetic facial injections with autologous fat and filler were performed, respectively. The patients had no light perception at the final visit and their conditions led to memory retrieval disturbance in case 1 and right arm weakness, dysarthria, facial palsy, and ophthalmoplegia in case 2. Neuroimaging showed multifocal small infarctions in the ipsilateral frontal lobe with occlusion of the ophthalmic artery in case 1 and multiple infarctions in the ipsilateral anterior and middle cerebral artery territories with subsequent hemorrhagic transformation in case 2. Poor visual prognosis and neurological complications can occur in healthy adults undergoing cosmetic facial injection, and all patients should be informed of this risk before the procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]