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Ma J, Zeng F, Han L, Guan Q. Educational level differences in the primary and secondary prevention of stroke. Prev Med 2022; 164:107283. [PMID: 36181771 DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2022.107283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/24/2022] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study is to estimate the educational level differences in the primary and secondary prevention of stroke among the Chinese population. Data were obtained from the China Kadoorie Biobank (CKB) survey of 512,891 people aged 30-79 years in 10 geographic regions of China, which was conducted from 2002 to 2008. The Prediction for Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk in China model was used to identify individuals with a high estimated 10-year stroke risk. A total of 8884 participants (1.7%) had established stroke and 218,972 (42.7%) had a high stroke risk. In both primary and secondary prevention, the participants' educational level was positively associated with the control of smoking, blood pressure, consuming a healthy diet, and the use of antiplatelet, BP-lowering medications but negatively associated with higher physical activity levels (all Ptrend < 0.001). In addition, the positive associations were observed with the control of drinking and use of anti-hyperglycaemia medication for primary prevention (all Ptrend < 0.001) and with the use of lipid-lowering medication for secondary prevention (Ptrend = 0.019). The results of the interaction between education level and prevention level showed that, compared with participants in primary prevention, educational level disparities in those with secondary prevention had significantly higher use of antiplatelets and lipid-lowering drugs, achieving the physical activity goal and non-current drinker (all Pfor interaction < 0.05). A higher education level was associated with an increased acceptance of primary and secondary prevention strategies (not smoking or drinking, consuming a healthier diet) except for engaging in a suitable level of physical activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junrong Ma
- Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, PR China
| | - Fangfang Zeng
- Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, PR China
| | - Liyuan Han
- Department of Global Health, Ningbo Institute of Life and Health Industry, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province, PR China; Department of Neurology, Ningbo No. 2 Hospital, Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province, PR China.
| | - Qiongfeng Guan
- Department of Neurology, Ningbo No. 2 Hospital, Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province, PR China.
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Shoamanesh A, Mundl H, Smith EE, Masjuan J, Milanov I, Hirano T, Agafina A, Campbell B, Caso V, Mas JL, Dong Q, Turcani P, Christensen H, Ferro JM, Veltkamp R, Mikulik R, De Marchis GM, Robinson T, Lemmens R, Stepien A, Greisenegger S, Roine R, Csiba L, Khatri P, Coutinho J, Lindgren AG, Demchuk AM, Colorado P, Kirsch B, Neumann C, Heenan L, Xu L, Connolly SJ, Hart RG. Factor XIa inhibition with asundexian after acute non-cardioembolic ischaemic stroke (PACIFIC-Stroke): an international, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 2b trial. Lancet 2022; 400:997-1007. [PMID: 36063821 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(22)01588-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Asundexian (Bayer AG, Leverkusen, Germany), an oral small molecule factor XIa (FXIa) inhibitor, might prevent thrombosis without increasing bleeding. Asundexian's effect for secondary prevention of recurrent stroke is unknown. METHODS In this randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 2b dose-finding trial (PACIFIC-Stroke), patients with acute (within 48 h) non-cardioembolic ischaemic stroke were recruited from 196 hospitals in 23 countries. Patients were eligible if they were aged 45 years or older, to be treated with antiplatelet therapy, and able to have a baseline MRI (either before or within 72 h of randomisation). Eligible participants were randomly assigned (1:1:1:1), using an interactive web-based response system and stratified according to anticipated antiplatelet therapy (single vs dual), to once daily oral asundexian (BAY 2433334) 10 mg, 20 mg, or 50 mg, or placebo in addition to usual antiplatelet therapy, and were followed up during treatment for 26-52 weeks. Brain MRIs were obtained at study entry and at 26 weeks or as soon as possible after treatment discontinuation. The primary efficacy outcome was the dose-response effect on the composite of incident MRI-detected covert brain infarcts and recurrent symptomatic ischaemic stroke at or before 26 weeks after randomisation. The primary safety outcome was major or clinically relevant non-major bleeding as defined by International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis criteria. The efficacy outcome was assessed in all participants assigned to treatment, and the safety outcome was assessed in all participants who received at least one dose of study treatment. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04304508, and is now complete. FINDINGS Between June 15, 2020, and July 22, 2021, 1880 patients were screened and 1808 participants were randomly assigned to asundexian 10 mg (n=455), 20 mg (n=450), or 50 mg (n=447), or placebo (n=456). Mean age was 67 years (SD 10) and 615 (34%) participants were women, 1193 (66%) were men, 1505 (83%) were White, and 268 (15%) were Asian. The mean time from index stroke to randomisation was 36 h (SD 10) and median baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score was 2·0 (IQR 1·0-4·0). 783 (43%) participants received dual antiplatelet treatment for a mean duration of 70·1 days (SD 113·4) after randomisation. At 26 weeks, the primary efficacy outcome was observed in 87 (19%) of 456 participants in the placebo group versus 86 (19%) of 455 in the asundexian 10 mg group (crude incidence ratio 0·99 [90% CI 0·79-1·24]), 99 (22%) of 450 in the asundexian 20 mg group (1·15 [0·93-1·43]), and 90 (20%) of 447 in the asundexian 50 mg group (1·06 [0·85-1·32]; t statistic -0·68; p=0·80). The primary safety outcome was observed in 11 (2%) of 452 participants in the placebo group versus 19 (4%) of 445 in the asundexian 10 mg group, 14 (3%) of 446 in the asundexian 20 mg group, and 19 (4%) of 443 in the asundexian 50 mg group (all asundexian doses pooled vs placebo hazard ratio 1·57 [90% CI 0·91-2·71]). INTERPRETATION In this phase 2b trial, FXIa inhibition with asundexian did not reduce the composite of covert brain infarction or ischaemic stroke and did not increase the composite of major or clinically relevant non-major bleeding compared with placebo in patients with acute, non-cardioembolic ischaemic stroke. FUNDING Bayer AG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashkan Shoamanesh
- Division of Neurology, McMaster University, Population Health Research Institute, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
| | - Hardi Mundl
- TA Thrombosis and Vascular Medicine, Bayer AG, Wuppertal, Germany
| | - Eric E Smith
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Department of Radiology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Jaime Masjuan
- Neurology Department, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain; Departamento de Medicina, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Alcalá, IRYCIS, RICORS-ICTUS, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ivan Milanov
- Medical University, University Hospital for Neurology and Psychiatry "St Naum", Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Teruyuki Hirano
- Department of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyorin University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Alina Agafina
- Clinical Research Department, City Hospital #40, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Bruce Campbell
- Department of Medicine and Neurology, Melbourne Brain Centre at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Valeria Caso
- Stroke Unit, Santa Maria della Misericordia Hospital, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Jean-Louis Mas
- Department of Neurology, GHU Paris, Hôpital Sainte-Anne, Université Paris-Cité, Inserm U1266, Paris, France
| | - Qiang Dong
- Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Peter Turcani
- 1st Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Hanne Christensen
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Bispebjerg, Denmark
| | - Jose M Ferro
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Roland Veltkamp
- Neurology Department, Alfried-Krupp Hospital, Essen, Germany
| | - Robert Mikulik
- International Clinical Research Center and Neurology Department, St Anne's University Hospital, Brno, Czech Republic; Medical Faculty, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Gian Marco De Marchis
- Department of Neurology and Stroke Center, University Hospital of Basel and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Robin Lemmens
- Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain and Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Neurology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Adam Stepien
- Department of Neurology, Military Institute of Medicine, Warsaw, Poland
| | | | - Risto Roine
- Division of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Laszlo Csiba
- DE Clinical Center (DEKK), Health Service Units, Clinics, Department of Neurology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Pooja Khatri
- Department of Neurology and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Jonathan Coutinho
- Department of Neurology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Arne G Lindgren
- Department of Clinical Sciences Lund (Neurology), Lund University, Lund, Sweden; Department of Neurology, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
| | - Andrew M Demchuk
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Department of Radiology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | | | - Bodo Kirsch
- Statistics and Data Insights, Bayer AG, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Laura Heenan
- Department of Statistics, McMaster University, Population Health Research Institute, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Lizhen Xu
- Department of Statistics, McMaster University, Population Health Research Institute, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Stuart J Connolly
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Population Health Research Institute, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Robert G Hart
- Division of Neurology, McMaster University, Population Health Research Institute, Hamilton, ON, Canada
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Matsumaru Y, Kitazono T, Kadota K, Nakao K, Nakagawa Y, Shite J, Yokoi H, Kozuma K, Tanabe K, Akasaka T, Shinke T, Ueno T, Hirayama A, Uemura S, Kuroda T, Takita A, Harada A, Iijima R, Murakami Y, Saito S, Nakamura M. Relationship between platelet aggregation and stroke risk after percutaneous coronary intervention: a PENDULUM analysis. Heart Vessels 2022; 37:942-953. [PMID: 34973085 PMCID: PMC9114031 DOI: 10.1007/s00380-021-02003-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
In patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with a stent, high on-treatment platelet reactivity may be associated with an increased risk of stroke. This post hoc analysis of the PENDULUM registry compared the risk of post-PCI stroke according to on-treatment P2Y12 reaction unit (PRU) values. Patients aged ≥ 20 years who underwent PCI were stratified by baseline PRU (at 12 and 48 h post-PCI) as either high (HPR, > 208), optimal (OPR, > 85 to ≤ 208), or low on-treatment platelet reactivity (LPR, ≤ 85). The incidences of non-fatal ischemic and non-ischemic stroke through to 12 months post-PCI were recorded. Almost all enrolled patients (6102/6267 [97.4%]) had a risk factor for ischemic stroke, and most were receiving dual antiplatelet therapy. Of the 5906 patients with PRU data (HPR, n = 2227; OPR, n = 3002; LPR, n = 677), 47 had a non-fatal stroke post-PCI (cumulative incidence: 0.68%, ischemic; 0.18%, non-ischemic stroke). Patients with a non-fatal ischemic stroke event had statistically significantly higher post-PCI PRU values versus those without an event (P = 0.037). The incidence of non-fatal non-ischemic stroke was not related to PRU value. When the patients were stratified by PRU ≤ 153 versus > 153 at 12–48 h post-PCI, a significant difference was observed in the cumulative incidence of non-fatal stroke at 12 months (P = 0.044). We found that patients with ischemic stroke tended to have higher PRU values at 12–48 h after PCI versus those without ischemic stroke. Clinical trial registration: UMIN000020332.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuji Matsumaru
- Division of Stroke Prevention and Treatment, Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8575, Japan.
| | - Takanari Kitazono
- Department of Clinical Medicine, National University Corporation Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Kazushige Kadota
- Department of Cardiology, Kurashiki Central Hospital, Okayama, Japan
| | - Koichi Nakao
- Division of Cardiology, Saiseikai Kumamoto Hospital Cardiovascular Center, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Yoshihisa Nakagawa
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Shiga University of Medical Science, Shiga, Japan
| | - Junya Shite
- Division of Cardiology, Osaka Saiseikai Nakatsu Hospital, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hiroyoshi Yokoi
- Cardiovascular Medicine Center, Fukuoka Sanno Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Ken Kozuma
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Teikyo University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kengo Tanabe
- Division of Cardiology, Mitsui Memorial Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takashi Akasaka
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan
| | - Toshiro Shinke
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takafumi Ueno
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Fukuoka Kinen Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan
| | | | - Shiro Uemura
- Department of Cardiology, Kawasaki Medical School, Okayama, Japan
| | - Takeshi Kuroda
- Medical Science Department, Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan
| | - Atsushi Takita
- Data Intelligence Department, Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan
| | - Atsushi Harada
- Medical Information Department, Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan
| | - Raisuke Iijima
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Toho University Ohashi Medical Center, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoshitaka Murakami
- Department of Medical Statistics, School of Medicine, Toho University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shigeru Saito
- Division of Cardiology and Catheterization Laboratories, Shonan Kamakura General Hospital, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Masato Nakamura
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Toho University Ohashi Medical Center, Tokyo, Japan
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Safouris A, Magoufis G, Tsivgoulis G. Emerging agents for the treatment and prevention of stroke: progress in clinical trials. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2021; 30:1025-1035. [PMID: 34555978 DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2021.1985463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Recent years have witnessed unprecedented progress in stroke care, but unmet needs persist regarding the efficacy of acute treatment and secondary prevention. Novel approaches are being tested to enhance the efficacy of thrombolysis or provide neuroprotection in non-thrombolized patients. AREAS COVERED The current review highlights pharmaceutical agents under evaluation in clinical trials concerning the acute, subacute, and chronic phase post-stroke. We examine the evidence in favor of tenecteplase as an alternative thrombolytic drug to alteplase, nerinetide as a promising neuroprotective agent, and glibenclamide for reducing edema in malignant hemispheric infarction. We discuss the use of ticagrelor and the promising novel category of factor XI inhibitors in the subacute phase after stroke. We offer our insights on combined rivaroxaban and antiplatelet therapy, PCSK-9 inhibitors, and other non-statin hypolipidemic agents, as well as novel antidiabetic agents that have been shown to reduce cardiovascular events in the long-term. EXPERT OPINION Current approaches in stroke treatment and stroke prevention have already transformed stroke care from a linear one-for-all treatment paradigm to a more individualized approach that targets specific patient subgroups with novel pharmaceutical agents. This tendency enriches the therapeutic armamentarium with novel agents developed for specific stroke subgroups. ABBREVIATIONS IVT: intravenous thrombolysis; RCTs: randomized-controlled clinical trials; TNK: Tenecteplase; COVID-19: Coronavirus 2019 Disease; EXTEND-IA TNK: The Tenecteplase versus Alteplase Before Endovascular Therapy for Ischemic Stroke trial; AIS: acute ischemic stroke; NNT: number needed to treat; MT: mechanical thrombectomy; sICH: symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage; mRS: modified Rankin Scale; AHA/ASA: American Heart Association/American Stroke Association; ESO: European Stroke Organization; NA-1: Nerinetide; ENACT: Evaluating Neuroprotection in Aneurysm Coiling Therapy; CTA: CT angiography; TIA: transient ischemic attack; CHANCE: Clopidogrel in High-risk patients with Acute Non-disabling Cerebrovascular Events; LOF: loss-of-function; PRINCE: Platelet Reactivity in Acute Nondisabling Cerebrovascular Events; THALES: Acute Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack Treated with Ticagrelor and ASA [acetylsalicylic acid] for Prevention of Stroke and Death; CHANCE-2: Clopidogrel With Aspirin in High-risk Patients With Acute Non-disabling Cerebrovascular Events II; FXI: Factor XI; PACIFIC-STROKE: Program of Anticoagulation via Inhibition of FXIa by the Oral Compound BAY 2433334-NonCardioembolic Stroke study; COMPASS: Cardiovascular Outcomes for People Using Anticoagulation Strategies; CANTOS-ICAD: Combination Antithrombotic Treatment for Prevention of Recurrent Ischemic Stroke in Intracranial Atherosclerotic Disease; SAMMPRIS: Stenting and Aggressive Medical Therapy for Preventing Recurrent Stroke in Intracranial Stenosis; WASID: Warfarin-Aspirin Symptomatic Intracranial Disease; SPARCL: Stroke Prevention by Aggressive Reduction in Cholesterol Levels; LDL-C: low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; TST: Treat Stroke to Target; IMPROVE-IT: Improved Reduction of Outcomes: Vytorin Efficacy International Trial; PCSK9: proprotein convertase subtilisin-kexin type 9; FOURIER: Further Cardiovascular Outcomes Research with PCSK9 Inhibition in Subjects with Elevated Risk; CLEAR: Cholesterol Lowering via Bempedoic acid, an ACL-inhibiting Regimen; REDUCE-IT: Reduction of Cardiovascular Events With EPA Intervention Trial; STRENGTH: Outcomes Study to Assess STatin Residual Risk Reduction With EpaNova in HiGh CV Risk PatienTs With Hypertriglyceridemia; ACCORD: Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes; ADVANCE: Action in Diabetes and Vascular Disease: Preterax and Diamicron Modified Release Controlled Evaluation; VADT: Veterans Affairs Diabetes Trial; GLP-1R: Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor; SGLT2: sodium-glucose cotransporter 2; CONVINCE: COlchicine for preventioN of Vascular Inflammation in Non-CardioEmbolic stroke; PROBE: Prospective Randomized Open-label Blinded Endpoint assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Apostolos Safouris
- Stroke Unit, Metropolitan Hospital, Piraeus, Greece.,Second Department of Neurology, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, School of Medicine, "Attikon" University Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Georgios Tsivgoulis
- Second Department of Neurology, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, School of Medicine, "Attikon" University Hospital, Athens, Greece.,Department of Neurology, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, USA
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Psychogios K, Magoufis G, Kargiotis O, Safouris A, Bakola E, Chondrogianni M, Zis P, Stamboulis E, Tsivgoulis G. Ultrasound Assessment of Extracranial Carotids and Vertebral Arteries in Acute Cerebral Ischemia. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 56:medicina56120711. [PMID: 33353035 PMCID: PMC7765801 DOI: 10.3390/medicina56120711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Assessing ischemic etiology and mechanism during the acute phase of an ischemic stroke is crucial in order to tailor and monitor appropriate treatment and determine prognosis. Cervical Duplex Ultrasound (CDU) has evolved since many years as an excellent screening tool for the evaluation of extracranial vasculature. CDU has the advantages of a low cost, easily applicable, bed side examination with high temporal and spatial resolution and without exposing the patients to any significant complications. It represents an easily repeatable test that can be performed in the emergency room as a first-line examination of cervical artery pathology. CDU provides well validated estimates of the type of the atherosclerotic plaque, the degree of stenosis, as well as structural and hemodynamic information directly about extracranial vessels (e.g., subclavian steal syndrome) and indirectly about intracranial circulation. CDU may also aid the diagnosis of non-atherosclerotic lesions of vessel walls including dissections, arteritis, carotid-jugular fistulas and fibromuscular dysplasias. The present narrative review outlines all potential applications of CDU in acute stroke management and also highlights its potential therapeutic implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Klearchos Psychogios
- Acute Stroke Unit, Metropolitan Hospital, 18547 Piraeus, Greece; (K.P.); (O.K.); (A.S.); (E.S.)
- Second Department of Neurology, Attikon University Hospital, 15772 Athens, Greece; (E.B.); (M.C.)
- School of Medicine, University of Athens, 15772 Athens, Greece
| | - Georgios Magoufis
- Department of Interventional Neuroradiology, Metropolitan Hospital, 18547 Piraeus, Greece;
| | - Odysseas Kargiotis
- Acute Stroke Unit, Metropolitan Hospital, 18547 Piraeus, Greece; (K.P.); (O.K.); (A.S.); (E.S.)
| | - Apostolos Safouris
- Acute Stroke Unit, Metropolitan Hospital, 18547 Piraeus, Greece; (K.P.); (O.K.); (A.S.); (E.S.)
| | - Eleni Bakola
- Acute Stroke Unit, Metropolitan Hospital, 18547 Piraeus, Greece; (K.P.); (O.K.); (A.S.); (E.S.)
| | - Maria Chondrogianni
- Acute Stroke Unit, Metropolitan Hospital, 18547 Piraeus, Greece; (K.P.); (O.K.); (A.S.); (E.S.)
| | - Panagiotis Zis
- Medical School, University of Cyprus, 1678 Nicosia, Cyprus;
| | - Elefterios Stamboulis
- Acute Stroke Unit, Metropolitan Hospital, 18547 Piraeus, Greece; (K.P.); (O.K.); (A.S.); (E.S.)
| | - Georgios Tsivgoulis
- Second Department of Neurology, Attikon University Hospital, 15772 Athens, Greece; (E.B.); (M.C.)
- Correspondence:
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