Takeo Sato

A novel probe attached to the neck can accurately detect a large patent foramen ovale

PURPOSE We developed a novel probe (pastable soft ultrasound probe; PSUP) attached to the neck for right-to-left shunt (RLS) detection. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic ability of the PSUP for RLS detection by comparison with transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). METHODS The subjects were patients with ischemic strokes and transient ischemic attacks who underwent TEE. Based on TEE, patients with patent foramen ovale (PFO) were divided into two groups by the number of microbubbles (MBs): small PFO (1-29 MBs) and large PFO (≥30 MBs). Then, PSUP examination of one common carotid artery (CCA) was started using a procedure similar to TEE. RLS was diagnosed by PSUP when one or more microembolic signals were found in the CCA. The detection rate by size of PFO was compared between TEE and PSUP, and the diagnostic accuracy of PSUP was calculated. RESULTS From May 2014 to July 2016, 84 patients (63 males, median age 63 years) were included; 41 (49%) were diagnosed with PFO by TEE, while PSUP detected PFO in 31 (37%). Using TEE findings as the reference, PSUP for PFO showed sensitivity of 68%, specificity of 93%, and accuracy of 81%. On TEE, 22 patients had large PFOs, and 19 patients had small PFOs. The PSUP could identify large PFOs in grade I and II of International Consensus Criteria more accurately than small ones (58 and 86% vs. 29 and 14%, P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS The PSUP has considerable accuracy for diagnosing large PFOs. PSUP should play an important role in detecting large PFOs.

The NAG scale: Noble Predictive Scale for Hematoma Expansion in Intracerebral Hemorrhage

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Early hematoma expansion (HE) is not rare in intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) patients, but detecting those patients with high risk of HE is challenging. The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the factors associated with HE in acute ICH patients, and to develop a simple predictive scale for HE. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed consecutive patients with primary ICH, who received an initial non-contrast computed tomography (CT) scan within 24 hours from symptom onset. Patients underwent follow-up CT scans at 6 hours, 24 hours, and 7 days after admission. We compared the clinical characteristics of patients with and without HE (defined as an increase in intracerebral hemorrhage volume >33% or an absolute increase >6 mL on follow-up CT scans), and performed a logistic regression analysis to determine the predictors of HE. RESULTS A total of 118 patients (78 men; median age 63 years; interquartile range 54-73) were included in our study. HE was observed in 30 patients (25%). HE patients showed higher rates of anticoagulant use (20% vs. 2%, respectively; P=0.003), high National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale on admission (13 vs. 7, respectively; P=0.001), and high plasma glucose (141 mg/dl vs. 113 mg/dl, respectively; P=0.001) compared with patients without HE. After multivariate logistic regression analysis, we selected three factors for defining the NAG scale (1 point as baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale ≥10, 1 point as anticoagulant use, and 1 point as plasma glucose ≥133 mg/dL). The frequencies of HE associated with the NAG scale scores were as follows: score 0, 4%; score 1, 25%; score 2, 60%; score 3, 100%. CONCLUSION Stroke severity, hyperglycemia, and anticoagulation use were factors independently associated with HE. The NAG scale consists of readily available factors and can predict HE.

Relative adrenal insufficiency in adult-onset cerebral X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy

A 48-year-old man with adrenoleukodystrophy was admitted because of heavy sweating, sputum, and high fever. Brain MRI showed extensive cerebral white matter demyelination (figure, A). The patient was previously diagnosed with adult-onset cerebral X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (ACALD) with ABCD1 gene mutation at age 46 years. Laboratory findings on admission showed inflammatory changes (white blood cell count 12,400/μL, C-reactive protein 2.1 mg/dL), hypotonic hyponatremia (Na 118 mEq/L, Osm 255 mOsm), hyperkalemia (K 5.6 mEq/L), and hypoglycemia (75 mg/dL). The serum cortisol level was higher than normal (cortisol 35.2 μg/dL). Chest CT showed mild consolidation in the right lower lobe (figure, B).

Chronic kidney disease is independently associated with acute recurrent cerebral infarct in patients with atrial fibrillation

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The present study aimed to determine the frequency and time of recurrent cerebral infarct (RCI) in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and atrial fibrillation (AF), and to clarify associated factors. METHODS We retrospectively assessed and compared the clinical features of 79 consecutive patients (male, n=56; median age, 75y; median baseline NIHSS, 4) who were hospitalized due to AIS accompanied by AF, and who did or did not develop RCI between January 2012 and March 2015. RESULTS Direct oral anticoagulants were administered to 59% of the patients after a median of two days from the onset of the index stroke. Stroke recurred in 10 (13%) of the 79 patients about 5days after admission. The proportion of men was lower (30% vs. 77%, P=0.005) and the patients were older (82vs. 75y, P=0.049) in the group with RCI. Chronic kidney disease was significantly more prevalent in the group with RCI (50% vs. 16%, P=0.025) and independently associated with RCI (OR, 6.59; 95%CI, 1.19-36.63; P=0.031). CONCLUSIONS We found that RCI frequently develops about 5days after admission in patients with AIS and AF and that chronic kidney disease is independently associated with RCI.

Venous Stasis and Cerebrovascular Complications in Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis

Background/Aims: The factors related to cerebrovascular complications in cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) are controversial. We focused on venous stasis and investigated its relationship with cerebrovascular complications in CVST. Methods: CVST patients between June 2013 and October 2016 were enrolled. Relationships between cerebrovascular complications, defined as cerebral venous infarction, intracerebral hemorrhage, or subarachnoid hemorrhage, and cerebrum venous stasis and other clinical information were retrospectively analyzed. Venous stasis was evaluated by the prominence of the veins on susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI). The cerebrum was divided into 10 regions according to the venous drainage territories, and venous stasis was quantified by adding one point for venous prominence on SWI for each region (CVST SWI score). Results: All 5 cases in the noncomplicated group had a CVST SWI score of 0. The 3 patients with CVST SWI scores higher than 0 had cerebrovascular complications. The CVST SWI scores were higher in the complicated group than in the noncomplicated group (3.0 vs. 0, p = 0.010). Seizures were seen in all patients with complications and in none of the patients without complications (3 vs. 0, p = 0.018). Conclusion: Venous stasis evaluated by SWI can help predict cerebrovascular complications in CVST. A seizure is an important initial symptom that suggests cerebrovascular complications in CVST.

Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis and dural arteriovenous fistula in a 75-year-old man primarily presenting with repeated transient visual obscurations.

A 75-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of repeated transient visual obscurations of greying vision. The transient visual obscurations were caused by rotating his neck or the Valsalva manoeuver, and they recovered in about 30 seconds. A few weeks later, pulsatile tinnitus of the right ear and a dull headache developed. Both ocular fundi showed papilledema, and there was significant intracranial hypertension on cerebrospinal fluid examination. He was diagnosed as having right sigmoid sinus thrombosis and a dural arteriovenous fistula with a rapid arteriovenous shunt from the right ascending pharyngeal artery and the right occipital artery to the right transverse sinus. Anticoagulant therapy was started, and coil embolization was performed. The transient visual obscurations, headache, and tinnitus improved dramatically after the procedure. We hypothesized that the transient visual obscurations were triggered by rotating the neck or performing the Valsalva manoeuver as they both increase the pressure of cerebrospinal fluid, inducing transient optic nerve ischemia and visual obscurations under mild intracranial hypertension. Transient visual obscurations are an important initial symptom of intracranial hypertension.