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Background: The influences of genetic variants on functional clinical outcomes following stroke are unclear. In order to reliably quantify these influences, we undertook a comprehensive meta-analysis of outcomes after acute intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) or ischaemic stroke (AIS) in relation to different genetic variants., Methods: PubMed, PsycInfo, Embase and Medline electronic databases were searched up to January 2019. Outcomes, defined as favourable or poor, were assessed by validated scales (Barthel index, modified Rankin scale, Glasgow outcome scale and National Institutes of Health stroke scale)., Results: Ninety-two publications comprising 31,895 cases met our inclusion criteria. Poor outcome was observed in patients with ICH who possessed the APOE4 allele: OR =2.60 (95% CI = 1.25-5.41, p = 0.01) and in AIS patients with the GA or AA variant at the BDNF-196 locus: OR = 2.60 (95% CI = 1.25-5.41, p = 0.01) or a loss of function allele of CYP2C19: OR = 2.36 (95% CI = 1.56-3.55, p < 0.0001). Poor outcome was not associated with APOE4: OR = 1.02 (95% CI = 0.81-1.27, p = 0.90) or IL6-174 G/C: OR = 2.21 (95% CI = 0.55-8.86, p = 0.26) in patients with AIS., Conclusions: We demonstrate that recovery of AIS was unfavourably associated with variants of BDNF and CYP2C19 genes whilst recovery of ICH was unfavourably associated with APOE4 gene.

Background: Urgent reversal of vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) is required for major bleeding or urgent surgery by intravenous vitamin K with either prothrombin complex concentrates (PCCs) or fresh frozen plasma (FFP). However, there is lack of consensus regarding the superiority of either reversal agent. We sought to compare the performance of PCC and FFP in urgent reversal of VKA., Methods: A meta-analysis was conducted up to November 2018. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using a random effects model., Results: Seventeen studies comprising 2606 participants met the inclusion criteria. Compared with FFP treatment, PCC treatment led to a reduction in 90-day all-cause mortality (OR 0.60, 95% CI 0.40-0.90, p = 0.01), better reversal of INR (OR 7.36, 95% CI 4.18-12.98; p < 0.00001) and lower risk of at least one treatment-related adverse event (OR 0.45, 95% CI 0.26-0.80, p = 0.006). Among patients with VKA-associated intracranial haemorrhage, PCC treatment led to a reduction in 90-day all-cause mortality (OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.35-0.94, p = 0.03) and better reversal of INR (OR 6.52, 95% CI 1.66-25.59, p = 0.007). There were no differences between these two agents in thrombogenicity, requirement for and quantity of red blood cell transfusions, all adverse events, fluid overload or disability on discharge or at 90 days., Conclusions: As an agent for urgent reversal of VKA, PCC outperforms FFP in 90-day all-cause mortality including those with VKA-related intracranial haemorrhage, INR reversal and treatment-related adverse events.

Introduction: A wide variety of non-genetic and genetic factors have been shown to associate with increased risk for cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT). However, there is a paucity of risk factor data and conclusions about their impact are often conflicting. Herein, we quantified the associations of non-genetic and genetic risk factors for CVT in adults., Materials and Methods: Electronic databases were searched up to January 2017. Meta-analyses were performed (RevMan v5.3) to determine pooled odds ratios (ORs and 95% CIs) for risk factors, interstudy heterogeneity and publication bias., Results: Twenty non-genetic (n = 2314) and 33 genetic (n = 2117) studies up to January 2017 met the selection criteria. For non-genetic factors, CVT risk increased in the presence of glucocorticosteroid therapy by 18.3-fold (3.3-102.6), alcohol consumption 2.7-fold (1.8-3.9), infection 7.5-fold (2.6-21.6), surgery 9.6-fold (1.1-83.5), hypercholesterolaemia 2.4-fold (1.3-4.4), hyperhomocysteinaemia 3.1-fold (2.1-4.6), antiphospholipid antibodies 7.0-fold (2.1-23.6), autoimmune diseases 5.6-fold (2.3-13.6), anaemia 4.0-fold (2.1-7.9), malignancy 3.2-fold (1.4-7.1) and pregnancy/puerperium 11.4-fold (5.7-24.3). Smoking, hypertension and diabetes did not associate with CVT risk. For genetic factors, CVT risk increased in the presence of factor V Leiden (G1691A) by 2.5-fold (1.9-3.3), protein C deficiency 10.7-fold (3.1-37.7), protein S deficiency 5.7-fold (1.4-22.4), antithrombin deficiency 3.8-fold (1.0-13.8), prothrombin (G20210A) 5.5-fold (4.0-7.27) and TAFI gene variant (C1040T) 1.6-fold (1.0-2.4). Prothrombin G20210A and factor V Leiden polymorphisms tended to have higher ORs for CVT than for ischaemic stroke., Conclusions: We provide quantitative data supporting a strong basis for genetic and non-genetic risk factors in CVT. Its genetic liability seems higher when compared with sporadic ischaemic stroke., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Therapeutic hypothermia has been used to attenuate the effects of traumatic brain injuries. However, the required degree of hypothermia, length of its use, and its timing are uncertain. We undertook a comprehensive meta-analysis to quantify benefits of hypothermia therapy for traumatic brain injuries in adults and children by analyzing mortality rates, neurologic outcomes, and adverse effects., Data Sources: Electronic databases PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and ClinicalTrials.gov and manual searches of studies were conducted for relevant publications up until February 2016., Study Selection: Forty-one studies in adults (n = 3,109; age range, 18-81 yr) and eight studies in children (n = 454; age range, 3 mo to 18 yr) met eligibility criteria., Data Extraction: Baseline patient characteristics, enrollment time, methodology of cooling, target temperature, duration of hypothermia, and rewarming protocols were extracted., Data Synthesis: Risk ratios with 95% CIs were calculated. Compared with adults who were kept normothermic, those who underwent therapeutic hypothermia were associated with 18% reduction in mortality (risk ratio, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.70-0.96; p = 0.01) and a 35% improvement in neurologic outcome (risk ratio, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.18-1.54; p < 0.00001). The optimal management strategy for adult patients included cooling patients to a minimum of 33°C for 72 hours, followed by spontaneous, natural rewarming. In contrast, adverse outcomes were observed in children who underwent hypothermic treatment with a 66% increase in mortality (risk ratio, 1.66; 95% CI, 1.06-2.59; p = 0.03) and a marginal deterioration of neurologic outcome (risk ratio, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.80-1.01; p = 0.06)., Conclusions: Therapeutic hypothermia is likely a beneficial treatment following traumatic brain injuries in adults but cannot be recommended in children.