Abstract TP56: The Impact of Early Ischemic Changes on Head CT on Hemorrhagic Conversion and Outcomes in Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke

Background: Early ischemic changes (EIC) on head CT are associated with increased hemorrhagic transformation (HT) following treatment with TPA. We examined the associations between EIC, HT, and outcomes in patients treated and not treated with IV TPA. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of consecutive acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients presenting to our CSC from April 2014 to March 2015. Demographic and clinical data, including initial head CT findings (parenchymal hypodensity, loss of gray-white differentiation, sulcal effacement, hyperdense vessel) were collected. HT on repeat neuroimaging, poor functional outcome, as measured by a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) of 3-6, and in-hospital mortality were assessed. Results: A total of 679 patients were included (50.4% men). One hundred and eight patients (15.9%) received IV TPA. EIC were observed in 38.5% of untreated patients and 17.6% in IV TPA treated patients (p14 (14.8% vs. 9.6%, p=0.016), and discharge mRS 3-6 (53.6% vs. 44.5%, p=0.040). For patients treated with IV TPA, in-hospital mortality was more common in patients with EIC (31.6% vs. 10.0%, p=0.013). Conclusions: In untreated patients, EIC may serve as a harbinger for HT on repeat imaging and poor functional outcome at discharge, whereas in patients treated with IV TPA, it is associated with HT and in-hospital mortality. Patients with EIC may be at increased risk of HT and poor outcomes even without thrombolytics.