Amy Guzik

Stroke Prognostication using Age and NIH Stroke Scale SPAN-100

ABSTRACT Objectives: Age and stroke severity are major determinants of stroke outcomes, but systematically incorporating these prognosticators in the routine practice of acute ischemic stroke can be challenging. We evaluated the effect of an index combining age and stroke severity on response to IV tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) among patients in the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) tPA stroke trials. Methods: We created the Stroke Prognostication using Age and NIH Stroke Scale (SPAN) index by combining age in years plus NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) ≥100. We applied the SPAN-100 index to patients in the NINDS tPA stroke trials (parts I and II) to evaluate its ability to predict clinical response and risk of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) after thrombolysis. The main outcome measures included ICH (any type) and a composite favorable outcome (defined as a modified Rankin Scale score of 0 or 1, NIHSS ≤1, Barthel index ≥95, and Glasgow Outcome Scale score of 1) at 3 months. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to determine the association between SPAN-100 and outcomes of interest. Results: Among 624 patients in the NINDS trials, 62 (9.9%) participants were SPAN-100 positive. Among those receiving tPA, ICH rates were higher for SPAN-100–positive patients (42% vs 12% in SPAN-100–negative patients; p < 0.001); similarly, ICH rates were higher in SPAN-100–positive patients (19% vs 5%; p = 0.005) among those not receiving tPA. SPAN-100 was associated with worse outcomes. The benefit of tPA, defined as favorable composite outcome at 3 months, was present in SPAN-100–negative patients (55.4% vs 40.2%; p < 0.001), but not in SPAN-100–positive patients (5.6% tPA vs 3.9%; p = 0.76). Similar trends were found for secondary outcomes (e.g., symptomatic ICH, catastrophic outcome, discharge home). Conclusion: The SPAN-100 index could be a simple method for estimating the clinical response and risk of hemorrhagic complications after tPA for acute ischemic stroke. These results need further confirmation in larger contemporary datasets.

Pooled Assessment of Computed Tomography Interpretation by Vascular Neurologists in the STRokE DOC Telestroke Network

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The objective of this pooled analysis was to determine the level of agreement between central read and each of 2 groups (spoke radiologists and hub vascular neurologists) in interpreting head computed tomography (CT) scans of stroke patients presenting to telestroke network hospitals. METHODS The Stroke Team Remote Evaluation Using a Digital Observation Camera (STRokE DOC and STRokE DOC-AZ TIME) trials were prospective, randomized, and outcome blinded comparing telemedicine and teleradiology with telephone-only consultations. In each trial, the CT scans of the subjects were interpreted by the hub vascular neurologist in the telemedicine arm and by the spoke radiologist in the telephone arm. We obtained a central read for each CT using adjudicating committees blinded to treatment arm and outcome. The data were pooled and the results reported for the entire population. Kappa statistics and exact agreement rates were used to assess interobserver agreement for radiographic contraindication to recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA), presence of hemorrhage, tumor, hyperdense artery, acute stroke, prior stroke, and early ischemic changes. RESULTS Among 261 analyzed cases, the agreement with central read for the presence of radiological rt-PA contraindication was excellent for hub vascular neurologist (96.2%, κ = .81, 95% CI .64-.97), spoke radiologist report (94.7%, κ = .64, 95% CI .39-.88), and overall (95.4%, κ = .74, 95% CI .59-.88). For rt-PA-treated patients (N = 65), overall agreement was 98.5%, and vascular neurologist agreement with central read was 100%. CONCLUSIONS Both vascular neurologists and reports from spoke radiologists had excellent reliability in identifying radiologic rt-PA contraindications. These pooled findings demonstrate that telestroke evaluation of head CT scans for acute rt-PA assessments is reliable.

Pearls & Oy-sters: The critical role of histopathology in diagnosing cancer-associated necrotizing CNS vasculitis

Objective To highlight the importance of a broad differential and histopathologic confirmation in patients with newly diagnosed cancer with brain lesions atypical for CNS metastasis. Methods We report 2 cases of biopsy-proven CNS vasculitis in patients undergoing treatment for a newly diagnosed nonmetastatic cancer. Comprehensive medical record review was performed to identify the clinical presentation, representative neuroimaging, histopathologic features, and response to treatment. Results Patient 1 presented 1 month into induction therapy of malignant vaginal squamous cell carcinoma (stage 3, T2N1M0) with acute episodic left-sided hemiparesis due to seizure activity progressing to severe encephalopathy. Imaging revealed a right frontoparietal lesion while systemic workup was unrevealing. Biopsy demonstrated necrotizing vasculitis. Patient 2 presented 6 months after diagnosis of right breast invasive ductal carcinoma (stage IIa, T2N0M0, estrogen receptor–positive, progesterone receptor–positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor–2 positive) with subacute bifrontal headaches with associated phonophobia. Imaging showed hyperintense lesions involving the right temporoparietal region and systemic workup was unrevealing. Brain biopsy showed a necrotizing vasculitis. Patient 1 was treated with methyprednisolone and plasmapheresis and patient 2 was treated with prednisone. Both patients showed complete resolution of symptoms shortly after treatment and improvement on imaging. Conclusions These cases highlight the importance of comprehensive evaluation of new brain lesions in patients with nonmetastatic solid tumors. Characteristics of new brain lesions in patients with cancer that should raise suspicion of diagnoses other than brain metastasis include (1) primary malignancy without regional or distant metastasis, (2) imaging without discrete mass-like enhancement, and (3) cortically based location of lesions not at the gray–white matter junction.

Patient management problem-preferred responses.

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Gene Expression Profiles Predict Stroke Subtypes

Identification of ischemic stroke etiology is critical for appropriate evaluation in the acute setting and for selection of secondary stroke