Postoperative occlusion degree after flow-diverter placement with adjunctive coiling: analysis of complications

A machine learning-derived gene signature for assessing rupture risk and circulatory immunopathologic landscape in patients with intracranial aneurysms

Background

Intracranial aneurysm (IA) is an uncommon but severe subtype of cerebrovascular disease, with high mortality after aneurysm rupture. Current risk assessments are mainly based on clinical and imaging data. This study aimed to develop a molecular assay tool for optimizing the IA risk monitoring system.

Methods

Peripheral blood gene expression datasets obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus were integrated into a discovery cohort. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and machine learning integrative approaches were utilized to construct a risk signature. QRT-PCR assay was performed to validate the model in an in-house cohort. Immunopathological features were estimated using bioinformatics methods.

Results

A four-gene machine learning-derived gene signature (MLDGS) was constructed for identifying patients with IA rupture. The AUC of MLDGS was 1.00 and 0.88 in discovery and validation cohorts, respectively. Calibration curve and decision curve analysis also confirmed the good performance of the MLDGS model. MLDGS was remarkably correlated with the circulating immunopathologic landscape. Higher MLDGS scores may represent higher abundance of innate immune cells, lower abundance of adaptive immune cells, and worse vascular stability.

Conclusions

The MLDGS provides a promising molecular assay panel for identifying patients with adverse immunopathological features and high risk of aneurysm rupture, contributing to advances in IA precision medicine.

Effect and safety of Tubridge flow diverter in the treatment of unruptured intracranial aneurysms

The effect and safety of the Tubridge flow diverting device are unknown in the treatment of intracranial aneurysms after optimization of the device, improvement in the deployment of the device, and accumulation of experience of using the device. This retrospective one-center study was performed to investigate the clinical effect and safety of the Tubridge flow diverting device in the treatment of unruptured intracranial aneurysms. Twenty-three patients with 33 unruptured intracranial aneurysms which were treated with the Tubridge device were retrospectively enrolled. The clinical data, endovascular procedure, complications, and follow-up were analyzed. Twenty-seven Tubridge devices were deployed to treat the 33 aneurysms, and the deployment was failed in 1 case, resulting in the success stenting rate of 96.3%. In 5 (15.2%) aneurysms, coils were loosely packed. Peri-procedural complications occurred in 2 patients (8.7%), including 1 procedure-related complication in which the distal end of a Tubridge device herniated into the aneurysm cavity. In another case, weakness of left upper limb occurred on the second day post procedure, with instent thrombosis being suspected, which was recovered after medication. No other complications occurred. Twenty-three (100%) patients had clinical follow-up 6 months later, with the mRS of 0 in 21 patients, 1 in 1, and 2 in 1. Five (21.7%) patients with 11 aneurysms underwent digital subtraction angiography at 6-month follow-up, with 8 aneurysms being completely occluded (Raymond grade I) and 3 aneurysms still visible (Raymond grade III). The Tubridge flow diverter may be safe and effective in the treatment of unruptured intracranial aneurysms with low perioperative complications and good follow-up outcomes even though multi-center and prospective clinical studies with a large size sample are still needed to validate these results.

In-Stent Stenosis After Pipeline Embolization Device in Intracranial Aneurysms: Incidence, Predictors, and Clinical Outcomes

BACKGROUND

In-stent stenosis (ISS) is a delayed complication that can occur after pipeline embolization device use when treating intracranial aneurysms (IAs).

OBJECTIVE

To assess the incidence, predictors, and outcomes of ISS.

METHODS

This was a retrospective, multicenter, observational study. All patient data were collected from a PLUS registry study. We collected data from patients with IA who completed digital subtraction angiography at follow-up and divided patients into "non-ISS," "mild ISS," or "severe ISS" groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine predictors of ISS.

RESULTS

A total of 1171 consecutive patients with 1322 IAs participated in this study. Angiographic follow-up was available for 662 patients with 728 IAs, and the mean follow-up time was 9 months. ISS was detected in 73 cases (10.03%), including 61 mild ISS cases and 12 severe ISS cases. Univariate and multivariable analysis demonstrated that current smoking history (mild ISS: OR 2.15, 95% CI 1.122-4.118, P = .021; severe ISS: OR 5.858, 95% CI 1.186-28.93, P = .030) and cerebral atherosclerosis (mild ISS: OR 5.694, 95% CI 3.193-10.15, P = .001; severe ISS: OR 6.103, 95% CI 1.384-26.91, P = .017) were independent predictors of ISS. Compared with the other groups, the severe ISS group had higher rate of ischemic stroke (33.3%).

CONCLUSION

ISS occurs in approximately 10.03% of cases at a mean follow-up of 9 months. Statistically, current smoking history and cerebral atherosclerosis are the main predictors of ISS. Severe ISS may be associated with higher risk of neurological ischemic events in patients with IA after pipeline embolization device implantation.

Small Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms Can Be Effectively Treated With Flow-Diverting Devices

Purpose

To investigate the effect and safety of flow diverters in the management of small (<10 mm in diameter) unruptured intracranial aneurysms.

Materials and Methods

One hundred and ten patients with 145 small intracranial aneurysms treated with flow diverters were retrospectively enrolled. The clinical, endovascular, and follow-up data were analyzed.

Results

One hundred twenty-one flow diverters were deployed for the treatment of 145 small intracranial aneurysms in 110 patients, and the stenting success rate was 99.1%. In 133 (91.7%) aneurysms, only flow-diverting devices were deployed, and in the rest 12 (8.3%) of aneurysms, coils were used to loosely pack the aneurysm after deployment of a flow-diverting device. Five patients (4.5%) experienced ischemic complications, but no hemorrhagic complications were occurred. All patients had clinical follow-up 6-18 (median 12) after the procedure, with the modified Rankin scale score (mRS) 0 in 101 patients, 1 in four patients, 2 in three patients, 4 in one patient, and 5 in one patient. Digital subtraction angiography was performed at follow-up in 90 (81.8%) patients with 118 (81.4%) aneurysms 6-18 months (median 12) after the procedure, with the Raymond grade I in 90 (76.2%) aneurysms and Raymond grade III in 28 (23.7%). Eighteen patients with 22 partially occluded aneurysms at the first angiographic follow-up experienced the second digital subtraction angiography 12-36 months (median 26) after the procedure, and 21 (95.5%) aneurysms were completely occluded. Two patients had asymptomatic in-stent stenosis.

Conclusion

Treatment of small unruptured intracranial aneurysms with flow diverters can be performed safely and effectively with satisfactory outcomes.

A novel score for evaluating cerebral aneurysms treated with flow diversion: 4F-flow diversion predictive score

Background and purpose

Although grading scales for angiography outcomes following cerebral aneurysm treatment with flow diversion have been published, physicians have not widely adopted these scales in practice. The aim of this study is to propose and validate a novel Flow diversion Predictive Score (4F-FPS) grading scale based on previously established scales that is simple and reliable.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed consecutive patients who underwent endovascular treatment for cerebral aneurysms with flow diversion between January 2014 and September 2019. The included patients were randomly divided into the derivation and validation group in a 70/30 ratio, respectively. Aneurysms were classified as incomplete or complete occlusion based on final angiography outcomes. 4F-FPS was derived to predict aneurysm occlusion from multivariate logistic regression analyses in the derivation group and validated with previously published grading scales in the validation group.

Results

Overall, 662 patients [mean age, 53.8 years; 72.5% (480/662) female] with 662 aneurysms treated with the Pipeline^TM flow diverter were included [69.9% (463/662) derivation group, 30.1% (199/662) validation group]. The incidence of aneurysm occlusion was 82.7%. 4F-FPS demonstrated significant discrimination in 10-fold cross validation [mean receiver operating characteristic (ROC) area, 0.862 ± 0.055] and calibration (Cox & Snell R ², 0.251; Nagelkerke R ², 0.413) in the derivation group. The ROC area of 4F-FPS score in both the derivation and validation groups is the largest compared with previously published grading scales/scores (p < 0.05), which shows better sensitivity and specificity. The 4F-FPS score showed excellent prediction, discrimination, and calibration properties.

Conclusion

The 4F-FPS score is a simple and reliable tool to predict angiography outcome after flow diversion treatment. If widely adopted, it may provide a common language to be used in future reporting of flow diversion results for clinical trials and daily practice.

Clinical trial registration

http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT03831672.