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Objective The underlying pathophysiology varies according to stroke subtype. However, stroke heterogeneity among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) remains unstudied. We hypothesized that the contribution of SLE to stroke might vary according to its subtype and investigated the associations of SLE and various stroke subtypes. Methods Diagnostic codes and electronic medical records were used to identify 70 patients with SLE who developed acute cerebral infarction or intracerebral hemorrhaging at four tertiary referral hospitals between 2008 and 2018. Intracerebral hemorrhaging was classified as lobar or deep, while cerebral infarction was classified according to the SSS-TOAST criteria. Physician notes were used to identify SLE activity, and their prevalences were compared among stroke subtypes. Outcomes were collected from the patients' medical records. Results The most common stroke subtype in patients with SLE was that of undetermined causes (31%), followed by small artery occlusion (16%), cardioaortic embolism (13%), other causes (11%), lobar hemorrhaging (10%), deep hemorrhaging (10%), and large artery atherosclerosis (9%). Stroke onset occurred during a period of high SLE activity in 21 patients (30%). The proportion of patients with high SLE activity varied according to stroke subtype (p=0.039) and was highest for cerebral infarction with undetermined causes. Stroke recurrence or death was observed in 40% of patients within 5 years after the initial stroke onset. Conclusion The contributions of SLE to stroke varied significantly according to the stroke subtype. Given the unfavorable prognosis, close stroke subtype-specific observation by rheumatologists and stroke specialists is recommended after stroke events.

As the goal of mechanical thrombectomy is shifting toward mTICI-3 rather than mTICI-2b, we sought to clarify the limitation of the effect of mTICI-3. A post-hoc analysis of a registry of large-vessel occlusion stroke from 46 centers was conducted. Among 2,420 registered patients, 725 patients with anterior circulation occlusion who achieved successful reperfusion were analyzed. We compared outcomes between patients with mTICI-3 and mTICI-2b, and investigated how the effect of mTICI-3 changed according to baseline characteristics and time course. The proportion of patients with favorable outcomes (mRS 0–2 at day 90) was higher among patients with mTICI-3 compared to those with mTICI-2b (adjusted OR, 2.10; 95% CI, 1.49–2.97). There was no heterogeneity in the effect of mTICI-3 with respect to age, neurological deficit, alteplase use, occluded vessels, or infarct size. mTICI-3 was associated with favorable outcomes when the puncture-to-reperfusion time was

Background Thrombosis is a dynamic process, and a thrombus undergoes physical and biochemical changes that may alter its response to reperfusion therapy. This study assessed whether thrombus age influenced reperfusion quality and outcomes after mechanical thrombectomy for cerebral embolism. Methods We retrospectively evaluated 185 stroke patients and thrombi that were collected during mechanical thrombectomy at three stroke centers. Thrombi were pathologically classified as fresh or older based on their granulocytes' nuclear morphology and organization. Thrombus components were quantified, and the extent of NETosis (the process of neutrophil extracellular trap formation) was assessed using the density of citrullinated histone H3-positive cells. Baseline patient characteristics, thrombus features, endovascular procedures, and functional outcomes were compared according to thrombus age. Results Fresh thrombi were acquired from 43 patients, and older thrombi were acquired from 142 patients. Older thrombi had a lower erythrocyte content (p Conclusion An older thrombus delays reperfusion after mechanical thrombectomy for ischemic stroke. Adding therapies targeting thrombus maturation may improve the efficacy of mechanical thrombectomy.

Introduction: Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) for acute ischemic stroke has become a standard therapy, and the recanalization rate has significantly improved. However, some cases of unsuccessful recanalization still occur. We aimed to clarify patient factors associated with unsuccessful recanalization after MT for acute ischemic stroke. Methods: This was a single-center, retrospective study of 119 consecutive patients with anterior circulation acute ischemic stroke who underwent MT at our hospital between April 2015 and March 2019. Successful recanalization after MT was defined as modified Treatment in Cerebral Ischemia (mTICI) grade 2b or 3, and unsuccessful recanalization was defined as mTICI grades 0–2a. Several factors were analyzed to assess their effect on recanalization rates. Results: Successful recanalization was achieved in 88 patients (73.9%). The univariate analysis showed that female sex (38.6 vs. 67.7%, p = 0.007), a history of hypertension (53.4 vs. 83.9%, p = 0.003), and a longer time from groin puncture to recanalization (median 75 vs. 124 min, p < 0.001) were significantly associated with unsuccessful recanalization. The multivariate analysis confirmed that female sex (OR 3.18; 95% CI 1.12–9.02, p = 0.030), a history of hypertension (OR 4.84; 95% CI 1.32–17.8, p = 0.018), M2–3 occlusion (OR 4.26; 95% CI 1.36–13.3, p = 0.013), and the time from groin puncture to recanalization (per 10-min increase, OR 1.22; 95% CI 1.09–1.37, p < 0.001) were independently associated with unsuccessful recanalization. Conclusion: Female sex and a history of hypertension might be predictors of unsuccessful recanalization after MT for anterior circulation acute ischemic stroke. Further studies are needed to fully evaluate predictors of recanalization.

We analyzed 14 patients in our hospital, who underwent levodopa-carbidopa intestinal gel (LCIG) treatment through a percutaneous endoscopic gastrojejunostomy (PEG-J). The PEG-J related complications were observed in 10 patients (71.4%). Detailed complications are as followings: J-tube related complications such as kinking (3 cases, 21.4%), pump malfunctions (3 cases, 21.4%), skin troubles in the gastrostoma (7 cases, 50.0%), duodenal perforation, peritonitis, and ulcers (2 cases, 14.3%). These results indicated that the sufficient care for PEG-J associated complications are important in LCIG treatment.

Background: Thrombus formation is a dynamic process and the structure of thrombus changes with time. We examined the effect of thrombus age on the quality of reperfusion and prognosis in mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke. Methods: We examined 185 patients who underwent mechanical thrombectomy in 3 stroke centers between January 2015 and December 2019, and pathologically evaluated their retrieved thrombi. Thrombi were classified according to histologically accepted definitions as: fresh, with intact granulocytes; and older, with organization or lytic changes characterized by areas of colliquation necrosis and karyorrhexis of granulocytes. The extent of neutrophil extracellular trap formation (NETosis) in thrombi was assessed on the basis of the density of citrullinated histone H3 positive particles. Baseline characteristics, time to successful reperfusion (eTICI 2b or more), thrombus feature, and functional outcome were compared between the patients with fresh and older thrombi. Results: Fresh thrombi were obtained from 43 patients (23%), and older thrombi, from 142 patients (77%). The stroke subtypes and onset-to-puncture time did not significantly differ between the two groups. The erythrocyte content was higher, whereas the density of macrophages and extent of NETosis were lower in the fresh thrombi. Fresh thrombi were associated with shorter time from puncture to recanalization (median, 48 vs. 62 min, P = 0.004; Figure), and fewer passes before reperfusion (median, 1 vs. 2; P < 0.001). In the multivariate analysis, favorable outcome (mRS ≤ 2) was observed more often in patients with fresh thrombi (adjusted OR, 2.76; 95% CI, 1.20-6.32). Conclusions: An older thrombus necessitated longer procedure time and more device passes, which deteriorate the functional outcome of patients with acute ischemic stroke. Thrombus maturation may contribute to resistance to mechanical thrombectomy.

Background Chemotherapy may be a cause of cancer-associated stroke, but whether it increases stroke risk remains uncertain. We investigated how chemotherapy affects stroke risk in cancer patients. Methods Of 27,932 patients in a hospital-based cancer registry (which contains clinical data on all patients treated for cancer at Osaka University Hospital) screened between 2007 and 2015, medical records of 19,006 patients with complete data were investigated. A validated algorithm was used to identify stroke events within 2 years of cancer diagnosis. Patients were divided based on whether their initial treatment plan included chemotherapy. The association between chemotherapy and stroke was analyzed using the Kaplan–Meier method and stratified Cox regression. Results Of 19,006 patients, 5,887 (31%) were in the chemotherapy group. Stroke occurred in 44 (0.75%) and 51 (0.39%) patients in the chemotherapy and nonchemotherapy group, respectively. Kaplan–Meier curve analysis showed that patients in the chemotherapy group had a higher stroke risk than those in the nonchemotherapy group (hazard ratio [HR] 1.84; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.23–2.75). However, this difference was insignificant after adjustment for cancer status using inverse probability of treatment weighting with propensity scores (HR 1.20; 95% CI 0.76–1.91). Similarly, in the stratified Cox regression model, chemotherapy was not associated with stroke after adjustment for cancer status (HR 1.26; 95% CI 0.78–2.03). Conclusion In our study, the elevated stroke risk in cancer patients who received chemotherapy was presumably due to advanced cancer stage; chemotherapy was not associated with the increased risk of stroke.

Introduction: Chemotherapy may be a cause of cancer-associated stroke, but whether it increases stroke risk remains uncertain. We aimed to clarify the impact of chemotherapy on stroke risk in cancer patients. Methods: We investigated 27,932 patients enrolled in a hospital-based cancer registry at Osaka University Hospital between 2007 and 2015. The registry collects clinical data, including cancer status (site and stage), on all patients treated for cancer. Of them, 19,006 patients with complete data were included. A validated algorithm was used to identify stroke events within 2 years of cancer diagnosis. Patients were divided based on whether their initial treatment plan included chemotherapy. The association between chemotherapy and stroke was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and stratified Cox regression. Results: Of the 19,006 patients, 5,887 (31%) patients were in the chemotherapy group. Non-targeted chemotherapy was used in 5,371 patients. Stroke occurred in 44 patients (0.75%) in the chemotherapy group and 51 patients (0.39%) in the no-chemotherapy group. Kaplan-Meier curve analysis showed that patients in the chemotherapy group had a higher stroke risk than patients in the no-chemotherapy group (HR 1.84; 95% CI 1.23-2.75; Figure [A]). However, this difference was insignificant after adjustment for cancer status using inverse probability of treatment weighting with propensity scores (HR 1.20; 95% CI 0.76-1.91; Figure [B]). Similarly, in the stratified Cox regression model, chemotherapy was not associated with stroke after adjustment for cancer status (HR 1.26; 95% CI 0.78-2.03). These findings were consistent with analysis wherein the effect of chemotherapy was treated as a time-dependent covariate (HR 1.02; 95% CI 0.55-1.88). Conclusions: In this population, the elevated stroke risk in cancer patients who received chemotherapy was presumably due to advanced cancer stage; chemotherapy was not associated with the increased risk of stroke.

Introduction: We investigated how the degree of reperfusion affects functional outcomes according to the puncture-to-reperfusion time and preoperative condition in patients with acute large vessel occlusion. Methods: A post-hoc analysis of the RESCUE-Japan Registry 2, a prospective multicenter registry enrolling patients with acute cerebral large vessel occlusion from 46 centers in Japan between October 1, 2014 and September 30, 2016, was conducted. Among the 2,420 patients in the RESCUE-Japan 2 registry, 1,073 patients who achieved successful reperfusion with endovascular therapy were analyzed. We compared the functional and safety outcomes between patients with modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction grades 3 (mTICI-3) and 2b (mTICI-2b). Results: The proportion of patients with favorable outcomes (modified Rankin Scale scores of 0 to 2 at 90 days after onset) was higher among patients with mTICI-3 than among those with mTICI-2b (52% versus 38 %; adjusted OR, 1.96; 95% CI, 1.49-2.56). Compared to those in the patients with mTICI-2b within 30 minutes after puncture, favorable outcomes tended to be more common in patients who achieved mTICI-3 within 90 minutes after puncture (0-29 minutes: adjusted OR, 2.60; 95% CI, 1.24-5.46, 30-59 minutes adjusted OR, 1.65; 95% CI, 0.85-3.21, 60-89 minutes: adjusted OR, 1.61; 95% CI, 0.77-3.37; Figure). mTICI-3 reperfusion was associated with favorable outcomes in both anterior (adjusted OR, 1.81; 95% CI, 1.34-2.44) and posterior vessel occlusion (adjusted OR, 2.40; 95% CI, 1.06-5.44). There was no heterogeneity in the effect of mTICI-3 reperfusion on the outcomes with respect to age, NIHSS score, use of alteplase, late-presenting, distal vessel occlusion, or ASPECTS. Conclusions: mTICI-3 reperfusion, possibly even when reperfusion delays slightly, was superior to mTICI-2b. Achieving complete reperfusion, not only early reperfusion, is important to improve the outcomes regardless of preoperative condition.

D-dimer levels are used in several clinical settings, such as in predicting venous thrombosis, cardioembolic stroke and cancer status. In the present study, we investigated the associations between plasma D-dimer levels at admission, clinical characteristics and mortality at discharge in cryptogenic stroke patients. We also investigated whether D-dimer levels can predict long-term outcomes in those patients, including those with and without right-to-left shunt (RLS). Acute cryptogenic stroke patients (n = 295, 72 ± 13 years old) were consecutively enrolled and retrospectively analyzed. We defined the cryptogenic stroke as an undetermined etiology according to the Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment criteria. Plasma D-dimer levels at admission were evaluated. Assessments for RLS were performed using saline contrast-transcranial Doppler ultrasonography or contrast-transesophageal echography. Survivors (at discharge) underwent follow-up for up to 3 years after stroke onset. Of the total enrolled cohort, 17 patients died at discharge. D-dimer levels correlated with initial National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score (r = 0.391, P

Serum biomarkers are associated with hemorrhagic transformation and brain edema after cerebral infarction. However, whether serum biomarkers predict hemorrhagic transformation in large vessel occlusion stroke even after mechanical thrombectomy, which has become widely used, remains uncertain. In this prospective study, we enrolled patients with large vessel occlusion stroke in the anterior circulation. We analyzed 91 patients with serum samples obtained on admission. The levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), amyloid precursor protein (APP) 770, endothelin-1, S100B, and claudin-5 were measured. We examined the association between serum biomarkers and hemorrhagic transformation within one week. Fifty-four patients underwent mechanical thrombectomy, and 17 patients developed relevant hemorrhagic transformation (rHT, defined as hemorrhagic changes ≥ hemorrhagic infarction type 2). Neither MMP-9 (no rHT: 46 ± 48 vs. rHT: 15 ± 4 ng/mL, P = 0.30), APP770 (80 ± 31 vs. 85 ± 8 ng/mL, P = 0.53), endothelin-1 (7.0 ± 25.7 vs. 2.0 ± 2.1 pg/mL, P = 0.42), S100B (13 ± 42 vs. 12 ± 15 pg/mL, P = 0.97), nor claudin-5 (1.7 ± 2.3 vs. 1.9 ± 1.5 ng/mL, P = 0.68) levels on admission were associated with subsequent rHT. When limited to patients who underwent mechanical thrombectomy, the level of claudin-5 was higher in patients with rHT than in those without (1.2 ± 1.0 vs. 2.1 ± 1.7 ng/mL, P = 0.0181). APP770 levels were marginally higher in patients with a midline shift ≥ 5 mm than in those without (79 ± 29 vs. 97 ± 41 ng/mL, P = 0.084). The predictive role of serum biomarkers has to be reexamined in the mechanical thrombectomy era because some previously reported serum biomarkers may not predict hemorrhagic transformation, whereas the level of APP770 may be useful for predicting brain edema.

Objectives As the number of patients with left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation has been increasing, treatment of LVAD-related ischemic stroke is becoming a critical issue. We sought to clarify the features of mechanical thrombectomy in LVAD-related stroke with large vessel occlusion. Methods In a multi-center, retrospective case-control study, we compared 20 LVAD-related strokes with 33 non-LVAD strokes, all of which had large vessel occlusion in the anterior circulation treated with mechanical thrombectomy. A comparative histopathological examination of the retrieved thrombi was also performed. Results Successful reperfusion was achieved in 75% of the LVAD-related strokes. The time from onset to reperfusion was similar to that of non-LVAD strokes, but the total number of device passes required for reperfusion (median, 2.5 versus 1, P = 0.01) and the incidences of post-procedural parenchymal and subarachnoid hemorrhage (25% versus 3%, P = 0.02 and 55% versus 15%, P = 0.01, respectively) were higher in LVAD-related strokes. Symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage occurred in 4 patients (20%) with LVAD-related strokes. The histopathological analysis revealed that the ratio of erythrocyte components was significantly lower in thrombi retrieved from patients with LVAD-related stroke than in those with non-LVAD stroke (19 ± 6% versus 41 ± 17%, P = 0.01). Conclusions Mechanical thrombectomy is feasible in patients with LVAD-related stroke. However, repetitive device passes are needed to achieve successful reperfusion mainly because of the structurally organized thrombi, and the higher risk of hemorrhagic complications should be considered, while offering this therapeutic alternative.

Background and Purpose— Eosinophil counts are thought to be associated with atherosclerosis and aortic arch plaques. However, whether these associations exist among patients with acute ischemic stroke remains unclear. We aimed to evaluate the association between absolute eosinophil count (AEC) and aortic arch plaques among these patients. Methods— Consecutive acute ischemic stroke patients undergoing transesophageal echocardiography were retrospectively analyzed. Complex aortic arch plaques (CAPs) were defined as plaques ≥4 mm in thickness, with ulcer, or with mobile component. Results— A total of 430 patients (289 male, mean age 69.8±11.4 years) were enrolled. Patients with CAPs (n=169) showed higher mean AEC than those without (167±174/µL versus 127±127/µL; P =0.007). Multivariate analysis showed that increased AEC was independently associated with the presence of CAPs (odds ratio, 2.09; 95% confidence interval, 1.21–3.65). Conclusions— Among patients with acute ischemic stroke, increased AEC was independently associated with the presence of CAPs. Our results suggest that AEC may be a useful predictor for the presence of CAPs in these patients.

Mechanical thrombectomy was demonstrated to be useful for acute ischemic stroke. However, whether it is beneficial for patients with poor prestroke conditions, such as older adults and those with low activity of daily living, is unclear.A total of 134 patients who underwent mechanical thrombectomy in our hospital between April 2015 and January 2019 were retrospectively evaluated. Good outcome was defined as modified Rankin scale score of 0-2 at 90 days after stroke onset. Several factors were analyzed to assess their effects on clinical outcomes.At 90 days after stroke onset, 37.3% (50 of 134) of patients had a good outcome. Prestroke modified Rankin scale score was independently associated with a good outcome (odds ratio .39, 95% confidence interval .22-.67, P.001). In patients with prestroke modified Rankin scale score 0-1, 55.4% (46 of 83) had a good outcome, and no significant difference in prognosis was found between patients aged less than 80 years and those aged greater than or equal to 80 years (P = .64). More than half the patients with prestroke modified Rankin scale score greater than or equal to 2 were graded as modified Rankin scale score 5-6 at 90 days regardless of age, which was significantly higher than those with prestroke modified Rankin scale score 0-1 (P.001).Patients with prestroke modified Rankin scale score 0-1 are expected to have a good prognosis after mechanical thrombectomy even if aged greater than or equal to 80 years. Patients with prestroke modified Rankin scale score greater than or equal to 2 might have an extremely poor prognosis, and we should be more careful in selecting candidates for mechanical thrombectomy.

A 48-year-old woman spontaneously developed occipital pain, without any other neurological deficit. A brain magnetic resonance angiography showed narrowing, irregular dilatation, and aneurysmal formation in both the vertebral arteries (VA). According to these findings and the clinical course, we diagnosed the patient with spontaneous VA dissection. There was no finding suggesting cerebral infarction or subarachnoid hemorrhage. Three-dimensional T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging performed 27 days after first onset of headache revealed a crescent-shaped high-intensity lesion in both the VA walls. These findings indicated that the lesions in both VAs were equally in the subacute phase. Follow-up three-dimensional T1-weighted imaging indicated that the high-intensity signals in both VAs disappeared at almost the same time. This case report presents imaging evidence showing that spontaneous dissection occurred simultaneously in both the VAs.

Delayed stenosis of targeted vessels is a reported complication of stent retriever-based mechanical thrombectomy.1 We report a case of delayed stenosis with MRI findings that may be related to the underlying stenotic mechanism. A 46-year-old woman was brought to our hospital with sudden left hemiparesis and unilateral spatial neglect. MRI revealed occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery (MCA) and acute cerebral infarction (figure 1A,B). Emergent mechanical thrombectomy was performed with one stent retriever pass following two aspiration catheter passes, and a red thrombus was retrieved (figure 1C,D). We thought that an embolism had caused the vessel occlusion as no abnormalities were visualised at the occluded site on day 2 (figure 1E). Despite detailed examinations, we could not determine the embolic source during the patient’s hospitalisation, so we administered low-dose aspirin. She was discharged on day 46. Figure 1 (A,B) Initial brain MRI. (C) DSA before mechanical thrombectomy. (D) DSA after one pass with the stent …

Libman-Sacks endocarditis is a prevalent complication in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus or antiphospholipid syndrome (APS).[1][1] Although antithrombotic therapy can prevent thromboembolic events in APS, the optimal anticoagulation regimen remains uncertain. Here, we present a case of

A 87-year-old female presented with subacute progression of cognitive decline. Fluid-attenuated inversion recovery images of brain MRI showed multifocal high-intensity lesions. Thoracic CT image revealed the presence of thymoma, and serum autoantibody screening showed positivity for anti-gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA)

Background and Purpose— Brain infarct patterns that are observed via diffusion-weighted imaging are useful for classifying stroke subtypes. However, it is unclear whether infarct patterns can predict long-term outcomes in cryptogenic stroke patients. Herein, we investigated the association between acute brain infarct patterns and long-term stroke outcomes in cryptogenic stroke patients. Methods— Acute cryptogenic stroke patients were consecutively enrolled between April 2008 and March 2012. Diffusion-weighted imaging ischemic lesion patterns were classified as single lesions, scattered lesions in one vascular territory, or multiple lesions in multiple vascular territories. Survivors (at discharge) were followed up for 3 years after stroke onset. Results— A total of 272 cryptogenic stroke patients (132 women; aged 72±13 years) were enrolled. Among these patients, 169 (62.1%) had a single lesion, 38 (14.0%) had scattered lesions, and 65 (23.9%) had multiple lesions. Next, 261 patients (96.0%) were evaluated to assess right-to-left shunting, and 61 patients (23.4%) exhibited right-to-left shunting. On patient admission, right-to-left shunting and increased D-dimer levels were independently associated with multiple lesions but not single or scattered lesions. During the follow-up period (median, 1093 days), 30 patients (11.0%) developed recurrent stroke and 35 patients (12.9%) died. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard analyses showed that multiple infarcts were independently associated with recurrent stroke and all-cause mortality (hazard ratio, 3.79; 95% confidence interval, 2.24–6.37; P Conclusions— Multiple brain infarcts on diffusion-weighted imaging were independently associated with long-term stroke outcomes in cryptogenic stroke patients.

This case report describes our experience in using transorbital sonography to evaluate pathological changes in the central nervous system in hypertensive encephalopathy. A 49-year-old man with nausea, headache, and mild confusion was diagnosed with hypertensive encephalopathy by brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which revealed vasogenic edema in the bilateral thalamus and the brain stem. Lumbar puncture showed no severe intracranial hypertension. Transorbital sonography showed an increase in the optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD). Repeated examination revealed a return of the ONSD to an almost normal range after a reduction in blood pressure and a resolution of symptoms. An improvement in cerebral vasogenic edema was confirmed by brain MRI. ONSD might be related to the severity of cerebral vasogenic edema. Repeated measurement of ONSD by transorbital sonography may be useful to assess the pathological course and the effect of treatment in hypertensive encephalopathy.