Erasmia Broussalis

Current therapies in ischemic stroke. Part A. Recent developments in acute stroke treatment and in stroke prevention.

Stroke is the third leading cause of death with an increasing prevalence. In previous years many important achievements and new therapeutic strategies have been established. This article provides an overview on recent developments and is an update to the article of Green et al. that was published in 2004. As this article is a comprehensive review we divided it in two parts. In this Part A of our review, recent developments in acute stroke treatment and in stroke prevention are described. In Part B we will reflect on neuroprotection.

Current therapies in ischemic stroke. Part B. Future candidates in stroke therapy and experimental studies

Stroke still remains a major healthcare problem. The growing understanding of the mechanism of cell death in ischemia leads to new approaches in stroke treatment. The aim of neuroprotection is to reduce the post-stroke impairment and the overall costs that are accompanied in patients with severe disability. Despite encouraging data from experimental animal models, almost all neuroprotective therapies have, to date, not been established in clinical routine. In this part B of our review on stroke therapies we provide an overview on future candidates in stroke therapy and neuroprotective agents that are under investigation.

Comparison of Endovascular Treatment Versus Conservative Medical Treatment in Patients With Acute Basilar Artery Occlusion

Introduction: Basilar artery occlusion (BAO) causes mortality up to 90%. Methods: A total of 99 patients with BAO received either endovascular (endovascular mechanical recanalization and/or intra-arterial with optional intravenous thrombolysis [IVT] as bridging concept) or conservative medical treatment (IVT and/or medical oral therapy). Outcome parameters were measured in accordance with the thrombolysis in cerebral infarction (TICI), National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), and modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores. Results: In all, 78% underwent endovascular and 22% conservative medical treatment. The NIHSS at admission was 20 in both the groups. Postprocedurally, 36% (95% confidence interval: 26%-48%) of the endovascular group and 9% (21%-64%) of the conservative group reached TICI 3 (P = .017). In all, 30% of the endovascular group and 9% of the conservative group were documented with TICI 2b (P = .057). At 90 days follow-up, 45% (31%-60%) of the endovascular-treated patientsand no patient (0%-25%) of the conservative-treated group reached mRS ≤2 (P = .012). Conclusion: Endovascular treatment of BAO provides a better chance to survive this severe condition with good clinical outcome.

Treatment strategies for vasculitis that affects the nervous system

Vasculitis is a rare but severe disease. It is diagnostically challenging because patients present with nonspecific symptoms. The definitive diagnosis is therefore complicated, because many diagnostic procedures have to be performed. Currently, several systemic types are known that have a secondary affect on the nervous system; an isolated primary central nervous system (CNS) vasculitis also occurs. In this review, we highlight new developments in medical treatment and provide an overview of the various combination strategies regarding the most significant types of vasculitis.

Gender Differences in Patients with Intravenous Thrombolytic and Conservative Treatment for Acute Ischemic Stroke

Background: Stroke is the third leading cause of death and the main cause of long term disability in western societies. Methods: In the 5 years 2005 to 2009, 2872 ischemic stroke patients were admitted to our stroke unit and registered in a national database. The data was analyzed retrospectively. Results: 50.8% of the patients were women. The mean age of the patients was 69.5 [18 – 97]. The mean NIHS at admission was 7.2 [0 - 40], at discharge 4.9 [0 - 37]. 22.9 % of all admitted stroke patients were treated with IV thrombolysis. Women treated with thrombolysis were significantly older than men (mean age 73.7, range 28 – 97 vs. 68.2 ranges 18 – 89, p< 0.001). Although a highly significant improvement of NIHS was seen in both genders after thrombolytic treatment, women had trends towards less gain in thrombolysis Conclusions: In a clinic with high turnover rates and a thrombolysis rate of 22.9% we could confirm that patients of both genders benefit from thrombolytic treatment, whereby women did not show such a significant improvement most likely due to older age compared to men.

Ignoring floor and ceiling effects may underestimate the effect of carotid artery stenting on cognitive performance

Introduction Data on neuropsychological outcome after carotid artery stenting (CAS) remain inconsistent, furthermore cognitive outcome seems to be unpredictable in the individual case. Previous studies reporting improvement or decline might be due to ceiling and floor effects of the applied cognitive tests. We applied cognitive testing before and after CAS, avoiding the pitfall of ceiling and floor effects. Methods In our prospective database, we identified 72 patients free of clinical stroke with ≥70% carotid artery stenosis, who were treated with CAS. They were administered a neurocognitive test battery before and 3 months after CAS to compare cognitive performance before and after CAS. To avoid ceiling and floor effects of test performances, we additionally analysed subgroups of patients without baseline floor and ceiling cognitive performance. Results Pre-interventional to post-interventional cognitive performance improved significantly in the subtests measuring verbal episodic memory; deterioration was observed in spatial memory. The subgroups of patients without baseline floor and ceiling cognitive performance improved in measures of global cognition, verbal episodic memory (patients with left-sided CAS) and divided attention (patients with right-sided CAS); we observed no significant effects in the other domains. Conclusions Ignoring floor and ceiling effects may underestimate the impact of CAS on cognitive performance.

Thrombectomy in Patients With Large Cerebral Artery Occlusion A Single-Center Experience With a New Stent Retriever

Introduction: The Trevo device, a new stent retriever, may be utilized in patients with large cerebral artery occlusion. Methods: Fifty patients with large cerebral artery occlusion and treated with the Trevo device were analyzed. Patients may have received intravenous thrombolysis as a bridging concept in addition to thrombectomy. Outcome and recanalization parameters were documented using the National Institutes of Health Scale, the modified Ranking Scale (mRS) and Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction (TICI) score. Results: In all, 82% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 69%-91%) were documented with TICI 2b and 3. Good clinical outcome after 90 days (mRS ≤ 2) was assessed in 61% (95% CI: 46%-75%). Symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage occurred in 6 patients (12%, 95% CI: 1%-17%). The overall mortality rate was 14% (95% CI: 6%-27%). Conclusion: Thrombectomy with the new stent retriever device is feasible and effective and has an acceptable risk of intra-cerebral hemorrhage even in combination with pharmacological revascularization techniques.

Latest developments in anticoagulant drug discovery

Thromboembolic diseases have increased in number over the past years. Oral anticoagulants impair the formation and progression of thrombotic processes and are therefore of great importance in the treatment of these diseases. Until recently, vitamin K antagonists were used to block the coagulation system. But these agents display a lot of interactions besides their narrow therapeutic range and have potential risk of hemorrhage complications. Therefore, other factors of the coagulation cascade are currently being explored as therapeutic targets for the development of novel anticoagulants. This review will provide an overview of new drugs promising more effectiveness in the treatment of arterial and venous embolism. Furthermore, pharmacodynamics and drug interactions regarding new anticoagulants will be reported.

Projected Numbers of Ischemic Strokes Recorded in the Austrian Stroke-Unit Registry from 2012 to 2075

Background and Purpose This study analyzed the number of patients with ischemic strokes recorded in the Austrian Stroke-Unit Registry with the aim of projecting this number from 2012 to 2075 and to highlight that the Austrian health system will face a dramatic increase in older patients within the next few decades. Methods Current demographic information was obtained from EUROSTAT, and information on age- and sex-stratified 1-year incidence rates of ischemic stroke were obtained from the Austrian Stroke-Unit Registry. Sensitivity analysis was performed by analyzing the projections based on predicted ageing, main, and growth population scenarios, and with stratification by age and gender. Results The total number of ischemic strokes recorded in the Austrian Stroke-Unit Registry was 8,690 in 2012 and is expected to increase to 15,826, 15,626, or 18,134 in 2075 according to the ageing, main, and growth scenarios, respectively. The corresponding numbers of patients are projected to increase or decrease within different age strata as follows (100%=number of registered ischemic strokes in 2012): 0–40 years, 100%/99% (males/females); 40–50 years, 83%/83%; 50–60 years, 98%/97%; 60–70 years, 126%/119%; 70–80 years, 159%/139%; 80–90 years, 307%/199%; and 90+ years, 894%/413%. Conclusions The ageing population in Austria will result in the number of patients increasing considerably from 2012 to 2075, to 182%, 180%, or 208% (relative to 100% in 2012) according to the ageing, main, and growth scenarios, respectively; the corresponding value among those aged 80+ years is 315%, 290%, or 347%. These figures demonstrated the importance of improving primary preventive measures. The results of this study should provide a basis for discussions among health-care professionals and economists to face the future large financial burden of ischemic stroke on the Austrian health system.

The Casper Stent System for carotid artery stenosis

Purpose To report the results of a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data evaluating the safety and efficacy of a double layer stent engineered for carotid artery occlusive disease. Methods Between January 2014 and February 2017, 138 patients (25.4% women; median age 71 years) underwent Casper stent implantation for carotid artery stenosis. Eligibility criteria included stenosis >70% of vessel diameter (or >50% diameter with ulceration) in symptomatic patients or asymptomatic patients with >80% stenosis at the carotid bifurcation or in the proximal internal carotid artery. For all procedures, a distal embolic protection device was used. The primary endpoint was the rate of 90 day major adverse neurological events, defined as minor stroke, major stroke, or death by independent neurological assessment. Results Stent deployment was completed successfully in all cases without documented technical failure. There were no adverse neurological events or mortalities within 90 days. One thromboembolic occlusion of a small distal branch of the anterior cerebral artery occurred during the procedure and resolved with systemic recombinant tissue plasminogen activator administration. New ischemic lesions, all clinically silent, were seen in 6.5% of patients on post-procedure cerebral MRI. Conclusion The Casper carotid stent demonstrated safety and efficacy in the treatment of carotid stenosis, with no technical failures and no adverse neurological events seen throughout the 90 day follow-up period. Its double layer structure seems to combine adequate plaque scaffolding with high vessel adaptability.