The Importance of the Full Blood Count in Cerebral Ischemia: A Review of 609 Consecutive Young Patients with Stroke and Transient Ischemic Attacks

Erythrocytosis, thrombocytosis, and rate of recurrent thromboembolic event-A population based cohort study

INTRODUCTION

The management to reduce risk of thromboembolic complications in polycythemia vera and essential thrombocythemia are well established, but for other conditions with elevated hemoglobin, hematocrit, or platelets there are no consensus regarding treatment and follow up.

AIMS

To assess frequency of elevated blood values in patients with thromboembolic event, how many of these should be investigated further regarding myeloproliferative neoplasm and if the risk of recurrent event is depending on underlying condition.

METHODS

Retrospective cohort study of 3931 adult patients in the county of Norrbotten, Sweden, with thromboembolism during 2017 and 2018.

RESULTS

Of the 3931 patients, 1195 had either elevated Hb, HCT, or platelets fulfilling the 2016 revised WHO criteria for PV and ET, and out of these 411 should be evaluated regarding underlying myeloproliferative neoplasms. Unexplained thrombocytosis and secondary erythrocytosis were associated with the highest rate of recurrent event as well as the most inferior restricted mean survival time.

CONCLUSION

Elevated blood values are common in patients with thromboembolic event and the high risk of recurrent event and inferior restricted mean survival time in patients with unexplained thrombocytosis and secondary erythrocytosis implicates the importance of finding and managing the underlying condition.

Frequency and predictors of occult cancer in ischemic stroke: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The optimal approach for cancer screening after an ischemic stroke remains unclear.

AIMS

We sought to summarize the existing evidence regarding the frequency and predictors of cancer after an ischemic stroke.

SUMMARY OF REVIEW

We searched seven databases from January 1980 to September 2019 for articles reporting malignant tumors and myeloproliferative neoplasms diagnosed after an ischemic stroke (PROSPERO protocol: CRD42019132455). We screened 15,400 records and included 51 articles. The pooled cumulative incidence of cancer within one year after an ischemic stroke was 13.6 per thousand (95% confidence interval [CI], 5.6-24.8), higher in studies focusing on cryptogenic stroke (62.0 per thousand; 95% CI, 13.6-139.3 vs 9.6 per thousand; 95% CI, 4.0-17.3; p = 0.02) and those reporting cancer screening (39.2 per thousand; 95% CI, 16.4-70.6 vs 7.2 per thousand; 95% CI, 2.5-14.1; p = 0.003). Incidence of cancer after stroke was generally higher compared to people without stroke. Most cases were diagnosed within the first few months after stroke. Several predictors of cancer were identified, namely older age, smoking, and involvement of multiple vascular territories as well as elevated C-reactive protein and d-dimers.

CONCLUSIONS

The frequency of incident cancer after an ischemic stroke is low, but higher in cryptogenic stroke and after cancer screening. Several predictors may increase the yield of cancer screening after an ischemic stroke. The pooled incidence of post-stroke cancer is likely underestimated, and larger studies with systematic assessment of cancer after stroke are needed to produce more precise and valid estimates.