Endovascular Treatment of Acute Stroke

Extracellular vesicles derived from endothelial progenitor cells modified by Houshiheisan promote angiogenesis and attenuate cerebral ischemic injury via miR-126/PIK3R2

Angiogenesis following cerebral ischemia is crucial for restoring blood supply to the ischemic region. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) offer potential therapeutic benefits in the treatment of cerebral ischemia. Houshiheisan (HSHS) has been shown to improve clinical outcomes in ischemic stroke patients, reduce cerebral ischemic damage in rats, and protect endothelial cells. However, the potential effects of HSHS-modified EPC-derived EVs (EVsHSHS) for cerebral ischemia remain unexplored. This study investigated the impact of EVsHSHS on angiogenesis using rats with permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO) and brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs) subjected to oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD). Results demonstrated that EVsHSHS promoted the proliferation, migration, and tube formation of BMECs in vitro. In vivo, high doses of EVsHSHS exhibited better performance than equivalent doses of unmodified EPC-derived EVs in reducing cerebral infarction volume, improving cortical blood perfusion, decreasing neurological deficit scores, and increasing cortical microvessel density at day 7 post-modeling. The pro-angiogenic effects of EVsHSHS following cerebral ischemia were associated with the regulation of miR-126 and the PIK3R2/PI3K/AKT pathway.

Diagnostic accuracy of large and medium vessel occlusions in acute stroke imaging by neurology residents and stroke fellows: A comparison of CT angiography alone and CT angiography with CT perfusion

INTRODUCTION

Neurology senior residents and stroke fellows are first to clinically assess and interpret imaging studies of patients presenting to the emergency department with acute stroke. The aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic accuracy of brain CT angiography (CTA) with and without CT perfusion (CTP) between neurology senior residents and stroke fellows.

METHODS

In this neuroimaging study, nine practitioners (four senior neurology residents (SNRs) and five stroke fellows (SFs)) clinically assessed and interpreted the imaging data of 50 cases (15 normal images, 21 large vessel occlusions (LVOs) and 14 medium vessel occlusions (MeVOs) in two sessions, 1 week apart in comparison to final diagnosis of experienced neuroradiologist and experienced stroke neurologist consensus. Interrater agreement of CTA alone and CTA with CTP was quantified using kappa statistics, sensitivity, specificity and overall accuracy.

RESULTS

Overall, arterial occlusions were correctly identified in 221/315 (70.1%) with CTA alone and in 266/315 (84.4%) with CTA and CTP (p < 0.001). The sensitivity of overall arterial occlusions detection with CTA alone was 94.2% (95% CI: 90.8%-96.6%) while with addition of CTP was 98% (95% CI: 95.6%-99.3%), The specificity of CTA alone was 74.7% (95% CI: 67.2%-81.3%) which increased with CTP to 84.4% (95% CI: 77.7%-89.8%). The likelihood of correct identification with CTA alone was 156/189 (82.54%) for LVOs and 65/126 (51.59%) for MeVOs. This increased to 169/189 (89.42%; p = 0.054) for LVOs and 97/126 (76.98%; p < 0.001) for MeVOs when the CTA images with CTP were viewed. There was good overall interrater agreement between readers when using CTA alone (k 0.71, 95% CI, 0.62-0.80) and almost perfect (k 0.85, 95% CI, 0.76-0.94) when CTP was added to the image for interpretation. CTA and CTP had a significantly lower median interquartile range (IQR) interpretation time than CTA alone (114 [IQR, 103-120] s vs 156 [IQR, 133-160] s, p < 0.001).

DISCUSSION

In cerebral arterial occlusions, the rate of LVO and MeVOs detections increases when adding CTP to CTA. The accuracy and time for diagnosing arterial occlusion can be significantly improved if CTP is added to CTA. As MeVOs are commonly missed by front-line neurology senior residents or stroke fellows, cases with significant deficits and no apparent arterial occlusions need to be reviewed with neuroradiological expertise.

Fubuki XF Long Sheath guide catheter use in neuroendovascular procedures: Institutional experience in 60 cases

BACKGROUND

Endovascular treatment devices require compatible guide catheters to navigate complex vessels and anatomy. The Fubuki XF Long Sheath guide catheter (Fubuki XF) was developed with a 0.090-inch internal diameter with hydrophilic coating, an atraumatic rounded tip, and enhanced trackability and support with gradual shaft transition zones.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed a prospectively maintained database of neuroendovascular patients treated using Fubuki XF at our center (July 2022─May 2023). Baseline/procedural characteristics were collected. Outcomes of interest included technical success (procedure completion with Fubuki XF without alternative guide catheter use) and peri-procedural complications.

RESULTS

This study included 60 patients (43.3% [26/60] female; mean age: 69.6 ± 9.7) presenting with stenosis (45.0% [27/60]), unruptured aneurysms (31.7% [19/60]), ruptured aneurysm (1.7% [1/60]), arteriovenous fistula (5.0% [3/60]), arteriovenous malformation (3.3% [2/60]), chronic subdural hematoma (3.3% [2/60]), stroke/emboli (6.7% [4/60]), vasospasm (1.7% [1/60]), or carotid web (5.0% [1/60]). Fubuki XF was used to deliver endovascular treatment devices for stenting (43.3% [26/60]), flow diversion (23.3% [14/60]), embolization (11.7% [7/60]), coiling (10.0% [6/60]), balloon angioplasty (10.0% [6/60]), and mechanical thrombectomy (1.7% [1/60]). The Fubuki XF tip was placed in the internal carotid artery in 38.3% (23/60) of cases. Technical success was achieved in all cases. One V1 non-flow-limiting dissection (not related to Fubuki XF) and one failed closure occurred (1.7% [1/60] each). No iatrogenic strokes or intraprocedural ruptures occurred.

CONCLUSION

We used Fubuki XF to safely and effectively deliver a variety of compatible neuroendovascular devices. Fubuki XF was stable in all cases and locations, and there were no device-related complications or dissections.

Collateral Circulation and BNP in Predicting Outcome of Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients with Atherosclerotic versus Cardioembolic Cerebral Large-Vessel Occlusion Who Underwent Endovascular Treatment

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to verify the value of collateral circulation and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) in predicting clinical outcomes of patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and their biomarker value for stroke subtypes before endovascular treatment (EVT).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In this retrospective study, 182 patients who underwent EVT for unilateral anterior circulation large-vessel occlusion between March 2016 and January 2022 were analyzed. The modified collateral circulation scoring system on four-dimensional computed tomography angiography (4D CTA-CS) was used to assess collateral status, and stroke subtypes were determined according to the TOAST classification criteria. Patients were divided into good (mRS ≤ 2) and poor outcome (mRS > 2) groups based on their modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score at 3 months.

RESULTS

4D CTA-CS was an independent predictor of the clinical outcome for all AIS patients (odds ratio = 0.253; 95% CI, 0.147-0.437; p < 0.001), CE stroke patients (odds ratio = 0.513; 95% CI, 0.280-0.939; p = 0.030), and LAA stroke patients (odds ratio = 0.148; 95% CI, 0.049-0.447; p = 0.001). The BNP was a biomarker for clinical outcome prediction in CE (odds ratio = 1.004; 95% CI, 1.001-1.008; p = 0.005) but not in LAA patients. Combined with BNP, 4D CTA-CS improved predictive values for clinical outcomes (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Collateral status and BNP could be used as independent predictors of clinical outcomes in AIS patients and could determine stroke subtypes (CE stroke or LAA stroke). In addition, the model of 4D CTA-CS combined with BNP was the most effective in predicting clinical outcomes compared with collateral status or BNP alone.