Intravenous abciximab as a rescue therapy for immediate reocclusion after successful mechanical thrombectomy in acute ischemic stroke patients

Platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa antagonists in ischemic stroke patients without endovascular therapy: A meta-analysis

Platelet glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa antagonists have been employed in selective patients after endovascular therapy (EVT) for acute ischemic stroke (AIS), yet application in patients without EVT is debated. This meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies on AIS patients without EVT assessed the effectiveness and safety of platelet GP IIb/IIIa antagonists compared with traditional antiplatelet or thrombolysis therapy. Articles were retrieved from databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Cochrane. The risk of bias and certainty level of evidence were assessed. Fifteen studies were included. GP IIb/IIIa antagonists increased the proportion of patients with modified Rankin Scale (mRS) 0-1 (odd ratio [OR] 1.37, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04-1.81, p = 0.03), mRS 0-2 (OR 1.27, 95% CI 1.12-1.46, p = 0.0004), and Barthel Index (BI) 95-100 (OR 1.25, p = 0.005); decreased the proportion of stroke progression within 5 days (OR 0.66, p = 0.006); and lowered the mean mRS score at 90 days (mean difference [MD] -0.43, p = 0.002) and the National Institute of Health stroke scale score at 7 days (MD -1.64, p < 0.00001) compared with conventional treatment. Proportions of stroke recurrence within 90 days (OR 1.20, p = 0.60), any intracranial hemorrhage (aICH) (OR 1.20, p = 0.12), symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) (OR 0.91, p = 0.88), and death (OR 0.87, p = 0.25) had no statistical difference between both groups. This meta-analysis finds that compared with traditional antiplatelet or thrombolysis therapy, GP IIb/IIIa antagonists administered within 24-96 h of ischemic stroke onset significantly improve functional prognosis of patients with AIS not receiving EVT, as indicated by mRS and BI at 90 days, and do not increase the incidence of aICH, sICH, and death.

High thrombus platelet content is associated with a lower rate of first pass effect in stroke treated by endovascular therapy

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

First pass effect (FPE), the occurrence of complete reperfusion after one pass with no rescue attempt during endovascular therapy (EVT), is associated with the best clinical outcome after an acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Previous studies evaluating FPE occurrence according to EVT technical strategies, occlusion locations, or thrombus composition have provided controversial results. Here, we performed a correlation analysis between FPE occurrence and AIS thrombus cellular composition, as assessed using quantitative biochemical assays.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Homogenates of AIS thrombi from 250 patients were prepared by mechanical grinding. Platelet, red blood cell (RBC), and leukocyte contents of AIS thrombi were respectively estimated by quantification of GP (glycoprotein) VI, heme, and DNA in thrombus homogenates. FPE was defined as a modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infraction (mTICI) score of 2C or 3 after a single EVT device pass.

RESULTS

AIS thrombi successfully removed after a single pass were poorer in GPVI (0.098 ± 0.023 vs 0.111 ± 0.024 ng/mg, p < 0.001) compared to those whose removal had required several passes. GPVI content was also significantly associated with a higher number of device passes and a longer procedure time. No such significant correlation was found with DNA and heme content.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Thrombus platelet content may hamper thrombus removal by EVT. This result suggests that adjunctive therapies or functionalization of retrieval devices targeting platelets may improve EVT efficacy.

Postprocedural Thrombosis following Endovascular Treatment of Intracranial Aneurysm with Flow Diverters or Coiling: A Histologic Study

Endovascular treatment of aneurysms with flow diverters or coiling is sometimes complicated by intraprocedural or postprocedural thrombosis along or within the devices. Thrombus composition and structure associated with such complications may provide insights into mechanisms of thrombus formation and clinical strategies to remove the thrombus. We present a retrospective histopathologic study of 4 patients who underwent mechanical thrombectomy due to acute occlusion of either implanted flow diverter devices or along coils during the treatment of intracranial aneurysm.