Intracranial haemodynamics in patients with spontaneous carotid dissection. Transcranial Doppler ultrasound follow-up studies

Antiplatelets or anticoagulants? Secondary prevention in cervical artery dissection: an updated meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Extracranial artery dissection involving either internal carotid artery or vertebral artery is a major cause of stroke in adults under 50 years of age. There is no conclusive evidence whether antiplatelets or anticoagulants are better suited in the treatment of extracranial artery dissection.

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether antiplatelets or anticoagulants have advantage over the other in the treatment of extracranial artery dissection for secondary prevention of recurrent ischemic events or death.

METHODS

Present meta-analysis followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 statement. Database search was done in Medline, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) and ClinicalTrials.gov from inception to May 2021 using pre-defined search strategy. Additional studies were identified from reference lists from included studies, reviews and previous meta-analyses. Outcome measures were ischaemic stroke, ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA), and death.

RESULTS

Two RCTs and 64 observational studies were included in the meta-analysis. While the outcome measures of stroke, stroke or TIA and death were numerically higher with antiplatelet use, there were no statistically significant differences between antiplatelets and anticoagulants.

CONCLUSION

We found no significant difference between antiplatelet and anticoagulation treatment after extracranial artery dissection. The choice of treatment should be tailored to individual cases.

Posttraumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage related to concomitant carotid artery dissection and ruptured basilar trunk aneurysm: A case report and literature review

Background:

Carotid artery dissections (CADs) are a relatively rare disorder, whereas intracranial aneurysms (IAs) form a common cerebrovascular pathology. Since both vascular entities share similar risk factors and associations with connective tissue and vascular disorders, a common pathogenesis has been suggested. Here, we present a case of the concomitant occurrence of a CAD and a ruptured basilar trunk aneurysm (BTA). In the discussion, we elaborate on both vascular entities and have reviewed the literature on their concomitant incidence and potential shared pathogenesis.

Case Description:

We present a case of a 40-year-old female patient who was admitted to our hospital because of subarachnoid hemorrhage following a minor head trauma. Imaging revealed a BTA and unilateral extracranial dissection of the internal carotid artery. Despite coiling of the aneurysm, stenting of the dissection, and antithrombotic therapy, the patient died due to extensive cerebral ischemia sequelae.

Conclusion:

CAD and BTAs have both been associated with a vascular vulnerability but their concomitant occurrence has not been described previously. The previous studies have suggested an increased incidence of IAs in patients with a CAD and vice versa. However, the number of studies and reports on this mutual increased incidence is limited. Therefore, a shared pathogenesis seems rather speculative. In our case, we suggest that a posttraumatic CAD-induced hemodynamic alterations resulting in rupture of the saccular BTA.

Antithrombotic treatment for acute extracranial carotid artery dissections: a meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Carotid artery dissection is a leading cause of stroke in younger patients, with an associated prevalence of 2.6-3.0 per 100,000 population. This meta-analysis aims to determine whether in patients managed medically, treatment with anticoagulants or antiplatelet agents was associated with a better outcome with respect to mortality, ischaemic stroke, and major bleeding episodes.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A comprehensive search strategy was employed of the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE (January 1966 to March 2015), and EMBASE (January 1980 to March 2015) databases. Primary outcomes were death (all causes) or disability. Secondary outcomes were ischaemic stroke, symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage, and major extracranial haemorrhage during the reported follow-up period.

RESULTS

No completed randomized trials were found. Comparing antiplatelets with anticoagulants across 38 studies (1,398 patients), there were no significant differences in the odds of death (effects size, ES, -0.007, p = .871), nor in the death and disability comparison or across any secondary outcomes.

CONCLUSION

There were no randomised trials comparing either anticoagulants or antiplatelets with control, thus there is no level 1 evidence to support their routine use for the treatment of carotid artery dissection. Also, there were no randomised trials that directly compared anticoagulants with antiplatelet drugs, and the reported non-randomised studies did not show any evidence of a significant difference between the two.

Antithrombotic drugs for carotid artery dissection

BACKGROUND

Extracranial internal carotid artery dissection (eICAD) is a leading cause of stroke in younger patients.

OBJECTIVES

1. To determine whether, in patients with eICAD, treatment with anticoagulants, antiplatelet agents or control was associated with a better functional outcome. 2. To compare, among patients treated with either anticoagulants or antiplatelet agents, the risk of ischaemic strokes and major bleeding episodes.

SEARCH STRATEGY

We searched the Cochrane Stroke Group Trials Register (last searched 3 October 2009). In addition, we performed comprehensive searches of the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library Issue 2, 2009), MEDLINE (January 1966 to November 2009) and EMBASE (January 1980 to November 2009), checked all relevant papers for additional eligible studies and contacted authors and researchers in the field.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomised controlled trials, controlled clinical trials and non-randomised studies (if they reported on outcome stratified by antithrombotic treatment and included at least four patients) of anticoagulants or antiplatelet agents for the treatment of extracranial internal carotid artery dissection. Two review authors independently extracted data.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Primary outcomes were death (all causes) and death or disability. Secondary outcomes were ischaemic stroke, symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage, and major extracranial haemorrhage during the reported follow-up period. The first choice treatment was taken for analyses.

MAIN RESULTS

We did not find any completed randomised trials. Comparing antiplatelets with anticoagulants across 36 observational studies (1285 patients), there were no significant differences in the odds of death (Peto odds ratio (Peto OR) 2.02, 95% CI 0.62 to 6.60), or the occurrence of ischaemic stroke (OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.21 to 1.86) (34 studies, 1262 patients). For the outcome of death or disability, there was a non-significant trend in favour of anticoagulants (OR 1.77, 95% CI 0.98 to 3.22; P = 0.06) (26 studies, 463 patients). Symptomatic intracranial haemorrhages (5/627; 0.8%) and major extracranial haemorrhages (7/425; 1.6%) occurred only in the anticoagulation group; however, for both these outcomes, the estimates were imprecise and indicated no significant difference between the two treatment modalities.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

There were no randomised trials comparing either anticoagulants or antiplatelet drugs with control, thus there is no evidence to support their routine use for the treatment of extracranial internal carotid artery dissection. There were also no randomised trials that directly compared anticoagulants with antiplatelet drugs and the reported non-randomised studies did not show any evidence of a significant difference between the two.

Antiplatelets Versus Anticoagulation in Cervical Artery Dissection

Background and Purpose— The widespread preference of anticoagulants over antiplatelets in patients with cervical artery dissection (CAD) is empirical rather than evidence-based.

Summary of Review— This article summarizes pathophysiological considerations, clinical experiences, and the findings of a systematic metaanalysis about antithrombotic agents in CAD patients. As a result, there are several putative arguments in favor as well as against immediate anticoagulation in CAD patients.

Conclusions— A randomized controlled trial comparing antiplatelets with anticoagulation is needed and ethically justified. However, attributable to the large sample size which is required to gather meaningful results, such a trial represents a huge venture. This comprehensive overview may be helpful for the design and the promotion of such a trial. In addition, it could be used to encourage both participation of centers and randomization of CAD patients. Alternatively, antithrombotic treatment decisions can be customized based on clinical and paraclinical characteristics of individual CAD patients. Stroke severity with National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score ≥15, accompanying intracranial dissection, local compression syndromes without ischemic events, or concomitant diseases with increased bleeding risk are features in which antiplatelets seem preferable. In turn, in CAD patients with (pseudo)occlusion of the dissected artery, high intensity transient signals in transcranial ultrasound studies despite (dual) antiplatelets, multiple ischemic events in the same circulation, or with free-floating thrombus immediate anticoagulation is favored.

Current Diagnosis and Management of Blunt Internal Carotid Artery Injury

BACKGROUND

Blunt carotid artery injury (BCI) is a rare but potentially devastating injury. When undiagnosed it can result in severe disability or death.

METHODS

A Medline-based literature search was performed using key words 'blunt carotid injury' and cross-referenced with further original papers obtained from the references from this search.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of BCI is very low. However, given the serious consequences of a missed injury, recent efforts have focussed on targeted screening for this injury in trauma patients. Conventional angiography remains the investigation of choice but may be superceded in the future by non-invasive methods such as magnetic resonance angiography or CT angiography. Operative intervention is rarely required and anti-coagulation remains the treatment of choice where dissection or pseudoaneurysm is diagnosed. The role of anti-platelet therapy is currently being investigated. Endovascular management using stents has been described but medium to long term results are not yet available.

Antithrombotic drugs for carotid artery dissection

BACKGROUND

Extracranial internal carotid artery dissection can lead to occlusion of the artery and hence cause an ischaemic stroke. It is the underlying stroke mechanism in approximately 2.5% of all strokes. It is the second leading cause of stroke in patients younger than 45 years of age. Anticoagulants or antiplatelets may prevent arterial thrombosis in extracranial internal carotid artery dissection, but these benefits may be offset by increased bleeding.

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether antithrombotic drugs (antiplatelet drugs, anticoagulation) are effective and safe in the treatment of patients with extracranial internal carotid artery dissection, and which is the better treatment.

SEARCH STRATEGY

We searched the Cochrane Stroke Group Trials Register (last searched 3 October 2002). In addition we performed comprehensive searches of the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (Cochrane Library Issue 2, 2002), MEDLINE (January 1966 to May 2002) and EMBASE (January 1980 to June 2002), and checked all relevant papers for additional eligible studies.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomised controlled trials, controlled clinical trials assessing the efficacy of anticoagulants or antiplatelets for the treatment of extracranial internal carotid artery dissection, and non-randomised trials, e.g. case series (studies), that reported on any antithrombotic treatment with at least 4 patients, were eligible for inclusion. Data from all eligible studies were extracted independently by two reviewers. Disagreements were resolved by discussion.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Data on the primary outcome measures were extracted systematically. These were: death (all causes) and death or disability. Secondary outcomes were: first stroke occurrence, stroke recurrence, any stroke during reported follow-up, extracranial haemorrhage, and intracranial haemorrhage. The first choice treatment was taken for analyses.

MAIN RESULTS

No randomised trials were identified. No reliable comparisons of antiplatelet drugs or anticoagulants with control were available. Twenty-six eligible studies including 327 patients (who either received antiplatelet drugs or anticoagulants) were to be included in the comparative analysis. There was no significant difference in odds of death comparing antiplatelet drugs with anticoagulants (Peto odds ratio (Peto OR) 1.59, 95% CI 0.22-11.59). There was also no significant difference in the odds of being dead or disabled (Peto OR 1.94, 95% CI 0.76-4.91). Few intracranial haemorrhages (0.5%) were reported for patients on anticoagulants, none for patients on antiplatelets.

REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS

There were no randomised trials comparing either anticoagulants or antiplatelet drugs with control. There is, therefore, no evidence to support their routine use for the treatment of extracranial internal carotid artery dissection. There were also no randomised trials that directly compared anticoagulants with antiplatelet drugs, and the reported non-randomised studies did not show any evidence of a significant difference between the two. We suggest that a randomised trial including at least 1400 patients in each treatment arm with this condition is clearly needed.

Two neuro-ophthalmic episodes separated in time and space

A-46-year-old woman with a prior history of a spontaneously resolving right central retinal artery occlusion presented with an acute right third order Horner's syndrome and vague ocular pain. Magnetic resonance angiography demonstrated a right internal carotid artery dissection. The dissection improved on anticoagulation therapy. Marfans syndrome or Ehlers-Danlos syndrome was suspected but ruled out by clinical criteria and skin biopsy respectively.

Cranial nerve palsies in spontaneous carotid artery dissection

Two patients had isolated unilateral cranial nerve palsies due to spontaneous internal carotid artery (ICA) dissection without ischaemic cerebral involvement. One had acute glossopharyngeal and vagal, the other isolated hypoglossal nerve palsy. Reviewing all reported cases of angiographically confirmed ICA dissection in the literature, 36 additional cases with unequivocal ipsilateral cranial nerve palsies were analysed. While an isolated palsy of the IXth and Xth has not been reported previously, palsies of the XIIth nerve or the IXth to XIIth nerves were most frequently found. In these patients, lower cranial nerve palsies are probably the result of compression by an enlarging ICA due to mural haematoma. Symptoms and signs indicative of carotid dissection were concurrently present only in some reported cases. This raises the question of unrecognised carotid dissection as a cause of isolated cranial nerve palsies. When the dissection occurs in the subadventitial layer without relevant narrowing of the arterial lumen and when an aneurysm is thrombosed, angiography does not reliably yield the diagnosis. Therefore, carotid dissection might have been underestimated as a cause of isolated lower cranial nerve palsies before the advent of MRI. MRI demonstrates directly the extension of the wall haematoma in the axial and longitudinal planes. Some arteriopathies such as fibromuscular dysplasia and tortuosity make a vessel predisposed to dissection.

Angiographic frequency of saccular intracranial aneurysms in patients with spontaneous cervical artery dissection

The pathogenesis of intracranial aneurysms and spontaneous cervical artery dissection is incompletely understood but a primary arteriopathy, possibly similar in both disorders, may be of importance. To investigate the frequency of intracranial aneurysms in patients with spontaneous cervical artery dissection, the angiograms of 164 patients who were diagnosed at the Mayo Clinic as having spontaneous extracranial carotid or vertebral artery dissection were reviewed. Thirteen intracranial aneurysms were detected in nine (5.5%) of the 164 patients: eight (8.8%) of the 91 female patients and one (1.4%) of the 73 male patients. The frequency of intracranial aneurysms in these patients was significantly higher (p less than 0.01) than that observed in a recent angiographic study from the same institution, estimating the frequency of intracranial aneurysms in the general population (1.1%). The significance of these findings is discussed.