Kazunori Toyoda

PONTINE INFARCTION EXTENDING TO THE BASAL SURFACE

Etiology and symptomatology in pontine infarction extending to the basal surface are supposed to be different from those in deep pontine infarction of the lacunar type. The aim of this study was to compare the infarct size and location, vascular lesions, risk factors, and neurological deficits in three different types of acute pontine infarction. Methods We studied isolated pontine infarction extending to the basal surface on brain imaging (group 1, n=30), deep pontine infarction without extension to the basal surface (group 2, n=23), and pontine infarction with simultaneous extrapontine infarct in the posterior circulatory system (group 3, n=20). Clinical features, angiographic findings, and risk factors such as emboligenic heart disease, hypertension, and hvpercholesterolemia were compared among the groups. Results The infarct area was 2.5 times greater in group 1 than in group 2. On angiogram, atherosclerotic stenosis of the basilar trunk was observed in 50% of the patients studied in group 1, in 0% in group 2, and in 78% in group 3. Emboligenic heart diseases were observed in 23%, 0%, and 30% in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. However, hypertension (60% to 65%), diabetes mellitus (35% to 45%), and hvpercholesterolemia (13% to 17%) were equally distributed among the three groups. Classic lacunar syndromes were seen in 14 patients (47%) in group 1, in 20 patients (87%) in group 2, but in none of the patients in group 3. Patients belonging to group 1 showed a higher incidence of hemiparesis involving the face (37%), sensorimotor stroke (20%), and hemiparesis with confusion (17%) than those in group 2 (22%, 0%, and 4%, respectively) or in group 3 (0%, 5%, and 0%, respectively). Conclusions Pontine infarction in group 1 may have several different causes, such as cardioembolism, artery-to-artery embolism, or atherosclerosis of the basilar artery affecting pontine branches. Severe neurological symptoms often result that differ from those seen in the deep pontine lacunar infarction in group 2.

Effects of alteplase for acute stroke according to criteria defining the European Union and United States marketing authorizations: Individual-patient-data meta-analysis of randomized trials:

Background The recommended maximum age and time window for intravenous alteplase treatment of acute ischemic stroke differs between the Europe Union and United States. Aims We compared the effects of alteplase in cohorts defined by the current Europe Union or United States marketing approval labels, and by hypothetical revisions of the labels that would remove the Europe Union upper age limit or extend the United States treatment time window to 4.5u2009h. Methods We assessed outcomes in an individual-patient-data meta-analysis of eight randomized trials of intravenous alteplase (0.9u2009mg/kg) versus control for acute ischemic stroke. Outcomes included: excellent outcome (modified Rankin score 0–1) at 3–6 months, the distribution of modified Rankin score, symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage, and 90-day mortality. Results Alteplase increased the odds of modified Rankin score 0–1 among 2449/6136 (40%) patients who met the current European Union label and 3491 (57%) patients who met the age-revised label (odds ratio 1.42, 95% CI 1.21−1.68 and 1.43, 1.23−1.65, respectively), but not in those outside the age-revised label (1.06, 0.90−1.26). By 90 days, there was no increased mortality in the current and age-revised cohorts (hazard ratios 0.98, 95% CI 0.76−1.25 and 1.01, 0.86–1.19, respectively) but mortality remained higher outside the age-revised label (1.19, 0.99–1.42). Similarly, alteplase increased the odds of modified Rankin score 0-1 among 1174/6136 (19%) patients who met the current US approval and 3326 (54%) who met a 4.5-h revised approval (odds ratio 1.55, 1.19−2.01 and 1.37, 1.17−1.59, respectively), but not for those outside the 4.5-h revised approval (1.14, 0.97−1.34). By 90 days, no increased mortality remained for the current and 4.5-h revised label cohorts (hazard ratios 0.99, 0.77−1.26 and 1.02, 0.87–1.20, respectively) but mortality remained higher outside the 4.5-h revised approval (1.17, 0.98–1.41). Conclusions An age-revised European Union label or 4.5-h-revised United States label would each increase the number of patients deriving net benefit from alteplase by 90 days after acute ischemic stroke, without excess mortality.

A nationwide multi-center questionnaire survey on the management and treatment of post-stroke seizure and epilepsy in Japan

Seizures may occur after stroke. Though the majority of clinicians are aware of this, a consensus-based treatment and management strategy for post-stroke seizures is not available because there have only been a few large-scale studies that have explored this. This study has surveyed the actual state of medical treatment for post-stroke seizure and epilepsy in Japan. We conducted a nationwide questionnaire survey of the top 500 institutions regarding the number of cerebral infarction cases between February 2015 and May 2015. The questionnaire contained 14 items regarding the number of patients, type of tests and treatments conducted, and patient response to the treatments. Surveys from 189 institutions were obtained. A history of previous stroke was reported in 41% of hospitalized patients with epilepsy. The sensitivity of diffusion-weighted MRI and electroencephalography was not sufficient to detect the abnormalities seen in epilepsy. Carbamazepine was the most chosen antiepileptic drug for secondary prophylaxis, followed by valproate acid, and levetiracetam.

A case of cardiogenic embolism, which occurred under appropriate warfarin use, treated with thoracoscopic left atrial appendectomy

A 74-year-old man with a past medical history of bradycardiac atrial fibrillation and an old cerebral infarction presented with dysarthria. He had been treated with warfarin and PT-INR on admission was 2.0. MRI of the head revealed an acute ischemic stroke involving the cerebellum and left occipital lobe. Because transesophageal cardiac echography showed a thrombus in the left atrial appendage, anticoagulant treatment with warfarin and heparin was initiated. The thrombus was enlarging; therefore, we changed the anticoagulant therapy to apixaban with heparin on day 11. On day 17, a hemorrhagic cerebral infarction occurred. After the hemorrhage diminished, we treated him with warfarin aiming for a PT-INR between 3 and 4. The thrombus gradually shrank and disappeared on day 110. Finally, a thoracoscopic left atrial appendectomy was performed as a secondary prevention, with no recurrence till date.