Characterization of the 'White' Appearing Clots that Cause Acute Ischemic Stroke

Dynamic Imaging of Blood Coagulation Within the Hematoma of Patients With Acute Hemorrhagic Stroke

BACKGROUND

The dynamics of blood clot (combination of Hb [hemoglobin], fibrin, and a higher concentration of aggregated red blood cells) formation within the hematoma of an intracerebral hemorrhage is not well understood. A quantitative neuroimaging method of localized coagulated blood volume/distribution within the hematoma might improve clinical decision-making.

METHODS

The deoxyhemoglobin of aggregated red blood cells within extravasated blood exhibits a higher magnetic susceptibility due to unpaired heme iron electrons. We propose that coagulated blood, with higher aggregated red blood cell content, will exhibit (1) a higher positive susceptibility than noncoagulated blood and (2) increase in fibrin polymerization-restricted localized diffusion, which can be measured noninvasively using quantitative susceptibility mapping and diffusion tensor imaging. In this serial magnetic resonance imaging study, we enrolled 24 patients with acute intracerebral hemorrhage between October 2021 to May 2022 at a stroke center. Patients were 30 to 70 years of age and had a hematoma volume >15 cm3 and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score >1. The patients underwent imaging 3×: within 12 to 24 (T1), 36 to 48 (T2), and 60 to 72 (T3) hours of last seen well on a 3T magnetic resonance imaging system. Three-dimensional anatomic, multigradient echo and 2-dimensional diffusion tensor images were obtained. Hematoma and edema volumes were calculated, and the distribution of coagulation was measured by dynamic changes in the susceptibilities and fractional anisotropy within the hematoma.

RESULTS

Using a coagulated blood phantom, we demonstrated a linear relationship between the percentage coagulation and susceptibility (R2=0.91) with a positive red blood cell stain of the clot. The quantitative susceptibility maps showed a significant increase in hematoma susceptibility (T1, 0.29±0.04 parts per millions; T2, 0.36±0.04 parts per millions; T3, 0.45±0.04 parts per millions; P<0.0001). A concomitant increase in fractional anisotropy was also observed with time (T1, 0.40±0.02; T2, 0.45±0.02; T3, 0.47±0.02; P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

This quantitative neuroimaging study of coagulation within the hematoma has the potential to improve patient management, such as safe resumption of anticoagulants, the need for reversal agents, the administration of alteplase to resolve the clot, and the need for surgery.

The Standard-Dose Heparin-Warfarin Remedy Partially Resolves Thrombi in the Right Superior Pulmonary Vein and Left Atrium and Ameliorates Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Pulmonary vein thrombosis is common and underdiagnosed. Previously, we reported several cases of pulmonary vein thrombi (PVTs) using cardiac computed tomography (CT) and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). We reported that warfarin and direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) partially resolved PVTs; however, it is difficult to resolve all PVTs completely. Therefore, we evaluated the effects of standard-dose heparin-warfarin remedy on PVTs and left atrium (LA) thrombi using TEE and cardiac CT. A 64-year-old male with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and hypertension was assessed for thrombi in the LA and pulmonary veins using TEE and 80-slice multidetector computed tomography (80-MDCT). After one month of standard-dose heparin-warfarin remedy, the patient's right superior pulmonary vein (RSPV) thrombi and expanded LA thrombi from the RSPV thrombi had partially resolved. The RSPV thrombi and the expanded LA thrombi from the RSPV thrombi were detected using cardiac CT and TEE; however, they were depicted as black areas on TEE. They periodically moved inward with the patient's heartbeats. Additionally, the standard-dose heparin-warfarin remedy ameliorated the patient's T2DM, and the remedy effect could be maintained for five months to some extent by administering a standard dose of warfarin. The standard-dose heparin-warfarin remedy can ameliorate not only T2DM but also diabetic complications such as diabetic nephropathy and gestational diabetes mellitus.

Left Atrial Diverticula Present in the Right Lower Pulmonary Vein Thrombus Attachment Area

Left atrial diverticula (LADs) are thought to be associated with atrial fibrillation and an ischemic brain state. However, the mechanisms of LAD formation are unknown. Pulmonary vein thrombi (PVTs) can cause acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and ischemic stroke by releasing rather large particles. Additionally, PVTs can release much smaller particles, including neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) and/or other components of NETs, such as DNA and histones. To treat these diseases, it may be crucial to know the specific traits of PVTs. However, these issues are not direct effects of PVTs on the left atrium (LA). It is unclear whether PVTs affect the LA directly. We checked the direct effects of PVTs on the LA using cardiac computed tomography (CT) and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). The patient was a 73-year-old female with hypertension. TEE revealed extended LA thrombi from the right lower pulmonary vein, which were attached to the anterosuperior wall of the LA. Cardiac CT revealed the attaching area as a defect of enhancement and dimly revealed LAD with full thrombi on the attaching area. It was difficult to recognize the LAD at first; however, after one month of standard-dose heparin-warfarin treatment, the LAD was clearly detected using cardiac CT. LA thrombi could not be detected using cardiac CT.

Microfabricated Nitinol Stent Retrievers with a Micro-Patterned Surface

Stent retrievers are medical devices that are designed to physically remove blood clots from within the blood vessels of the brain. This paper focuses on microfabricated nitinol (nickel-titanium alloy) stent retrievers, which feature micro-patterns on their surface to enhance the effectiveness of mechanical thrombectomy. A thick film of nitinol, which was 20 µm in thickness, was sputtered onto a substrate with a micro-patterned surface, using electroplated copper as the sacrificial layer. The nitinol film was released from the substrate and then thermally treated while folded into a cylindrical shape. In vitro experiments with pig blood clots demonstrated that the micro-patterns on the surface improved the efficacy of blood clot retrieval.

Quality assessment of histopathological stainings on prolonged formalin fixed thrombus tissues retrieved by mechanical thrombectomy

Background

Formalin-fixed retrieved clots from mechanical thrombectomy (MT) are now routinely studied using both conventional histopathologic techniques and immunohistochemistry (IHC). However, the effects of prolonged formalin fixation on the histological results of clot analysis remain unknown. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of prolonged formalin fixation on quality of histopathologic stainings of thrombus tissues retrieved by MT.

Methods

As part of the multicenter EXCELLENT registry, a total of 80 clots extracted by MT from acute ischemic stroke patients were randomly selected from the tissue database and assigned into four groups according to 10% neutral buffered formalin (NBF) fixation duration (1-30, 30-60, 60-90, and 90+ days, up to 2 years). Samples underwent processing and sectioning. Two serial sections for each case were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), Martius Scarlet Blue (MSB), and IHC for CD42b (platelet marker). An expert pathologist, who was blinded to tissue fixation duration and patient clinical data, assessed the quality of each stain including stainability, sensitivity, specificity, and consistency of stainings.

Results

No significant issues were encountered during tissue processing and sectioning. On H&E stain, 97.5% (78/80) of slides showed good-quality staining, demonstrating clear histological properties of the thrombus tissue as red blood cells (RBC) stained in red, fibrin/platelet stained in pink, and nuclei stained in blue with intranuclear detail. The same histological features were also successfully demonstrated on MSB for all 80 samples. One of the 80 samples (1.2%) showed that RBC lost stainability on H&E due to tissue autolysis. Clear positive signal of platelet staining was expressed in 98.8% of the samples (79/80) with minimal background staining on IHC. There was no significant difference in staining quality across different formalin fixation groups.

Conclusion

A good quality of histopathological staining is achievable for the thrombus tissue fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin for up to 2 years. The findings are limited to the thrombus tissue retrieved by MT and specific fixation and staining protocols used in the study. To apply these results to other tissue or experimental setups, further studies and validations would be necessary.

Clinical trial registration

This study was conducted as part of the EXCELLENT study: www.clinicaltrials.gov, unique identifier: NCT03685578.

REVIEW: "ISCHEMIC STROKE: From Fibrinolysis to Functional Recovery" Nanomedicine: Emerging Approaches to Treat Ischemic Stroke

Stroke is responsible for 11% of all deaths worldwide, the majority of which are caused by ischemic strokes, thus making the need to urgently find safe and effective therapies. Today, these can be cured either by mechanical thrombectomy when the thrombus is accessible, or by intravenous injection of fibrinolytics. However, the latter present several limitations, such as potential severe side effects, few eligible patients and low rate of partial and full recovery. To design safer and more effective treatments, nanomedicine appeared in this medical field a few decades ago. This review will explain why nanoparticle-based therapies and imaging techniques are relevant for ischemic stroke management. Then, it will present the different nanoparticle types that have been recently developed to treat this pathology. It will also study the various targeting strategies used to bring nanoparticles to the stroke site, thereby limiting side effects and improving the therapeutic efficacy. Finally, this review will present the few clinical studies testing nanomedicine on stroke and discuss potential causes for their scarcity.

Antithrombotic Therapy for Primary and Secondary Prevention of Ischemic Stroke: JACC State-of-the-Art Review

Stroke is a devastating condition with significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Antithrombotic therapy plays a crucial role in both primary and secondary prevention of stroke events. Single or dual antiplatelet therapy is generally preferred in cases of large-artery atherosclerosis and small-vessel disease, whereas anticoagulation is recommended in conditions of blood stasis or hypercoagulable states that mostly result in red thrombi. However, the benefit of antithrombotic therapies must be weighed against the increased risk of bleeding, which can pose significant challenges in the pharmacological management of this condition. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the currently available evidence on antithrombotic therapy for ischemic stroke and outlines an updated therapeutic algorithm to support physicians in tailoring the strategy to the individual patient and the underlying mechanism of stroke.

A MALDI Mass Spectrometry Imaging Sample Preparation Method for Venous Thrombosis with Initial Lipid Characterization of Lab-Made and Murine Clots

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) and its complications affect over 900,000 people in the U.S. annually, with a third of cases resulting in fatality. Despite such a high incidence rate, venous thrombosis research has not led to significant changes in clinical treatments, with standard anti-coagulant therapy (heparin followed by a vitamin K antagonist) being used since the 1950s. Mechanical thrombectomy is an alternative strategy for treating venous thrombosis; however, clinical guidelines for patient selection have not been well-established or accepted. The effectiveness of both treatments is impacted by the heterogeneity of the thrombus, including the mechanical properties of its cellular components and its molecular makeup. A full understanding of the complex interplay between disease initiation and progression, biochemical molecular changes, tissue function, and mechanical properties calls for a multiplex and multiscale approach. In this work, we establish a protocol for using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry imaging to characterize spatial heterogeneity of biomolecules in lab-made blood clots and ex vivo murine thrombi. In this work, we compared (1) tissue preservation and cryosectioning methods, (2) various matrixes, 9-aminoacridine hydrochloride monohydrate (9AA), 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHB), and alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid matrix (CHCA), (3) plasma-rich versus red-blood-cell rich lab-made blood clots, and (4) lab-made blood clots versus ex vivo murine thrombi. This project is the first step in our work to combine mass spectrometry imaging with biomechanical testing of blood clots to improve our understanding of VTE.

MR microscopy to assess clot composition following mechanical thrombectomy predicts recanalization and clinical outcome

BACKGROUND

Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is the standard of care for patients with a stroke and large vessel occlusion. Clot composition is not routinely assessed in clinical practice as no specific diagnostic value is attributed to it, and MT is performed in a standardized 'non-personalized' approach. Whether different clot compositions are associated with intrinsic likelihoods of recanalization success or treatment outcome is unknown.

METHODS

We performed a prospective, non-randomized, single-center study and analyzed the clot composition in 60 consecutive patients with ischemic stroke undergoing MT. Clots were assessed by ex vivo multiparametric MRI at 9.4 T (MR microscopy), cone beam CT, and histopathology. Clot imaging was correlated with preinterventional CT and clinical data.

RESULTS

MR microscopy showed red blood cell (RBC)-rich (21.7%), platelet-rich (white,38.3%) or mixed clots (40.0%) as distinct morphological entities, and MR microscopy had high accuracy of 95.4% to differentiate clots. Clot composition could be further stratified on preinterventional non-contrast head CT by quantification of the hyperdense artery sign. During MT, white clots required more passes to achieve final recanalization and were not amenable to contact aspiration compared with mixed and RBC-rich clots (maneuvers: 4.7 vs 3.1 and 1.2 passes, P<0.05 and P<0.001, respectively), whereas RBC-rich clots showed higher probability of first pass recanalization (76.9%) compared with white clots (17.4%). White clots were associated with poorer clinical outcome at discharge and 90 days after MT.

CONCLUSION

Our study introduces MR microscopy to show that the hyperdense artery sign or MR relaxometry could guide interventional strategy. This could enable a personalized treatment approach to improve outcome of patients undergoing MT.

Unusual Histopathological Findings in Mechanically Removed Stroke Thrombi - A Multicenter Experience

Background

Several studies have investigated the histopathology of mechanically retrieved thrombi from stroke patients. Thrombi with unusual components constitute about 1–2% of all stroke thrombi in clinical practice. Knowledge about these rare components is limited.

Objectives

To characterize the histopathology of unusual stroke thrombi from a real-world setting with relation to clinical presentation, patient characteristics and procedural aspects of mechanical thrombectomy.

Methods

One-thousand and eight thrombi retrieved from stroke patients with mechanical thrombectomy at three different hospitals were retrospectively reviewed for unusual histological components. Fifteen thrombi were included in the study for further histopathological analysis. Clinical data and data on procedural aspects were collected.

Results

We identified six cases with large amounts of extracellular DNA, of which three were calcified. All six cases except one received anticoagulant therapy. We describe two types of calcifications that differ with respect to general calcification morphology, von Kossa staining pattern, macrophage immunophenotype and presence of multinucleated giant cells. Cholesterol-rich (n = 3), adipocyte-like pattern-rich (n = 2), collagen-rich (n = 2) and myxomatous (n = 1) thrombi were also identified and are discussed with regard to pathogenesis and clinical and intervention characteristics. Finally, a thrombus with parts of a vascular wall is described. Suggestions for future studies are made and clinical and technical aspects of the management for these rare but important patients are discussed.

Conclusion

In our retrospective multicenter study, we characterized stroke thrombi histopathologically and found subgroups of thrombi defined by presence of rarely seen components. These defined subgroups showed relation to underlying cardiovascular disease, patient characteristics, and mechanical thrombectomy technique. Knowledge about these components may increase our understanding of stroke pathophysiology and influence interventional procedures.

MicroCT Can Characterize Clots Retrieved With Mechanical Thrombectomy From Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients–A Preliminary Report

Background

Characterization of the clot occluding the arteries in acute ischemic stroke received ample attention, in terms of elucidating the relationship between the clot composition, its etiology and its amenability for pharmacological treatment and mechanical thrombectomy approaches. Traditional analytical techniques such as conventional 2D histopathology or electron microscopy sample only small parts of the clot. Visualization and analysis in 3D are necessary to depict and comprehend the overall organization of the clot. The aim of this study is to investigate the potential of microCT for characterizing the clot composition, structure, and organization.

Methods

In a pilot study, we analyzed with microCT clots retrieved from 14 patients with acute ischemic stroke. The following parameters were analyzed: overall clot density, clot segmentation with various density thresholds, clot volume.

Results

Our findings show that human clots are heterogeneous in terms of CT intra-clot density distribution. After fixation in formalin, the clots display a shift toward negative values. On average, we found the mean HU values of red clots retrieved from patients to be −153 HU, with SD = 23.8 HU, for the intermediate clots retrieved from patients −193 HU, SD = 23.7 HU, and for the white clots retrieved from patients −229 HU, SD = 64.8 HU.

Conclusion

Our study shows that volumetric and density analysis of the clot opens new perspectives for clot characterization and for a better understanding of thrombus structure and composition.