Comparison of T2*GRE and DSC-PWI for hemorrhage detection in acute ischemic stroke patients: Pooled analysis of the EPITHET, DEFUSE 2, and SENSE 3 stroke studies

Association of culprit plaque enhancement ratio, hypoperfusion and HbA1c with recurrent ischemic stroke in patients with atherosclerotic stenosis of the middle cerebral artery

PURPOSE

To investigate the differences in intracranial culprit plaque characteristics of the middle cerebral artery (MCA), collateral circulation and hypoperfusion in patients with and without recurrent ischemic stroke and to identify the association with the recurrent ischemic cerebrovascular events.

METHOD

Eighty-six patients with acute/subacute ischemic stroke caused by atherosclerotic plaques of the MCA were retrospectively enrolled and grouped into patients with recurrence (n = 36) and without recurrence (n = 50). All patients underwent high-resolution vessel wall imaging and dynamic susceptibility contrast-enhanced perfusion weighted imaging. The differences in culprit plaque characteristics, collateral circulation and hypoperfusion in the territory of the stenotic MCA were assessed between the two groups. The relationship between plaque characteristics and hypoperfusion was evaluated. The independent factors of recurrent ischemic stroke were identified by logistic regression analyses.

RESULTS

Higher HbA1c, culprit plaque enhancement grade, culprit plaque enhancement ratio, and lower time to peak map based on the Alberta Stroke Program Early CT score (TTP-ASPECTS) were observed in the recurrence group(all p < 0.050). Both plaque enhancement grade and enhancement ratio were significantly associated with TTP-ASPECTS (p = 0.030 and 0.039, respectively). HbA1c, culprit plaque enhancement ratio and TTP-ASPECTS were independent factors of the recurrence of ischemic stroke (all p < 0.050). The area under the curve of the combination including the above factors (AUC = 0.819) was significantly higher than that of any variable alone after adjustment (all p < 0.050).

CONCLUSIONS

Culprit plaque enhancement ratio, TTP-ASPECTS and HbA1c were independent factors of recurrent ischemic stroke. Their combination improved the accuracy in identifying the risk of recurrent ischemic stroke.

Related Factors of Cerebral Hemorrhage after Cerebral Infarction and the Effect of Atorvastatin Combined with Intensive Nursing Care

Background

Cerebral infarction is a common neurological disease with high incidence, which is the main factor causing death and disability in adults in China. Cerebral hemorrhage transformation is a common clinical complication. High NIHSS score at admission, atrial fibrillation, and small artery occlusion cerebral infarction can increase the risk of cerebral infarction complicated with hemorrhage transformation.

Aim

To explore the related factors of cerebral hemorrhage transformation after cerebral infarction and the value of atorvastatin calcium tablets combined with early intensive care measures.

Methods

In this study, a case-control study was conducted. Sixty patients with hemorrhagic transformation after cerebral infarction admitted to the Department of Neurology of our hospital from January 2017 to June 2021 were selected as the observation group, and 90 patients with cerebral infarction without hemorrhagic transformation during the same period were selected as the control group. The risk factors of hemorrhagic transformation after cerebral infarction were analyzed.

Results

The results of logistic regression model showed that the increased National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score at admission, hypertension, atrial fibrillation, TOAST classification of small artery occlusion, and large infarction lesions were the risk factors for hemorrhagic transformation in patients with cerebral infarction (P < 0.05). After 2 weeks and 4 weeks of treatment, the NIHSS scores of the intervention group were lower than those of the conventional group (P < 0.05). NIHSS scores of the two groups after treatment were significantly lower than those before treatment (P < 0.05). After three months of treatment, the patients in the intervention group with GOS score of 5 points accounted for 16.67%, and the patients with GOS score of 4 points accounted for 56.67%. The patients in the conventional group with GOS score of 5 points accounted for 6.67%, and the patients with GOS score of 4 points accounted for 33.33%. The prognosis of the intervention group was better than that of the conventional group on the whole (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Patients with hypertension, large infarction lesions, high NIHSS score at admission, atrial fibrillation, and small artery occlusion cerebral infarction can increase the risk of bleeding transformation in patients with cerebral infarction. For patients with bleeding transformation, atorvastatin calcium tablets combined with early intensive nursing intervention has a certain value for improving the prognosis of patients.

Navigating Supply Chain Disruptions of Iodinated Contrast Agent for Neuroimaging and How Business Intelligence Can Help the Decision Process

A recent coronavirus disease 2019-related shutdown of the main production facility of iohexol in China has led to massive shortages of iodinated contrast material across the globe. This shortage has also jeopardized neuroimaging. In this article, we describe remedies to reduce iodinated contrast material use for stroke imaging, which is its primary use in neuroimaging, that we have implemented in our hospital network.

Can QuickBrain MRI replace CT as first-line imaging for select pediatric head trauma?

OBJECTIVE

The current standard of care for initial neuroimaging in injured pediatric patients suspected of having traumatic brain injury is computed tomography (CT) that carries risks associated with radiation exposure. The primary objective of this trial was to evaluate the ability of a QuickBrain MRI (qbMRI) protocol to detect clinically important traumatic brain injuries in the emergency department (ED). The secondary objective of this trial was to compare qbMRI to CT in identifying radiographic traumatic brain injury.

METHODS

This was a prospective study of trauma patients less than 15 years of age with suspected traumatic brain injury at a level 1 pediatric trauma center in Portland, Oregon between August 2017 and March 2019. All patients in whom a head CT was deemed clinically necessary were approached for enrollment to also obtain a qbMRI in the acute setting. Clinically important traumatic brain injury was defined as the need for neurological surgery procedure, intubation, pediatric intensive care unit stay greater than 24 hours, a total hospital length of stay greater than 48 hours, or death.

RESULTS

A total of 73 patients underwent both CT and qbMRI. The median age was 4 years (interquartile range [IQR] = 1-10 years). Twenty-two patients (30%) of patients had a clinically important traumatic brain injury, and of those, there were 2 deaths (9.1%). QbMRI acquisition time had a median of 4 minutes and 52 seconds (IQR = 3 minutes 49 seconds-5 minutes 47 seconds). QbMRI had sensitivity for detecting clinically important traumatic brain injury of 95% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 77%-99%). For any radiographic injury, qbMRI had a sensitivity of 89% (95% CI = 78%-94%).

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that qbMRI has good sensitivity to detect clinically important traumatic brain injuries. Further multi-institutional, prospective trials are warranted to either support or refute these findings.