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Vande Vyvere T, Pisică D, Wilms G, Claes L, Van Dyck P, Snoeckx A, van den Hauwe L, Pullens P, Verheyden J, Wintermark M, Dekeyzer S, Mac Donald CL, Maas AIR, Parizel PM. Imaging Findings in Acute Traumatic Brain Injury: a National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Common Data Element-Based Pictorial Review and Analysis of Over 4000 Admission Brain Computed Tomography Scans from the Collaborative European NeuroTrauma Effectiveness Research in Traumatic Brain Injury (CENTER-TBI) Study. J Neurotrauma 2024. [PMID: 38482818 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2023.0553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
In 2010, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) created a set of common data elements (CDEs) to help standardize the assessment and reporting of imaging findings in traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, as opposed to other standardized radiology reporting systems, a visual overview and data to support the proposed standardized lexicon are lacking. We used over 4000 admission computed tomography (CT) scans of patients with TBI from the Collaborative European NeuroTrauma Effectiveness Research in Traumatic Brain Injury (CENTER-TBI) study to develop an extensive pictorial overview of the NINDS TBI CDEs, with visual examples and background information on individual pathoanatomical lesion types, up to the level of supplemental and emerging information (e.g., location and estimated volumes). We documented the frequency of lesion occurrence, aiming to quantify the relative importance of different CDEs for characterizing TBI, and performed a critical appraisal of our experience with the intent to inform updating of the CDEs. In addition, we investigated the co-occurrence and clustering of lesion types and the distribution of six CT classification systems. The median age of the 4087 patients in our dataset was 50 years (interquartile range, 29-66; range, 0-96), including 238 patients under 18 years old (5.8%). Traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (45.3%), skull fractures (37.4%), contusions (31.3%), and acute subdural hematoma (28.9%) were the most frequently occurring CT findings in acute TBI. The ranking of these lesions was the same in patients with mild TBI (baseline Glasgow Coma Scale [GCS] score 13-15) compared with those with moderate-severe TBI (baseline GCS score 3-12), but the frequency of occurrence was up to three times higher in moderate-severe TBI. In most TBI patients with CT abnormalities, there was co-occurrence and clustering of different lesion types, with significant differences between mild and moderate-severe TBI patients. More specifically, lesion patterns were more complex in moderate-severe TBI patients, with more co-existing lesions and more frequent signs of mass effect. These patients also had higher and more heterogeneous CT score distributions, associated with worse predicted outcomes. The critical appraisal of the NINDS CDEs was highly positive, but revealed that full assessment can be time consuming, that some CDEs had very low frequencies, and identified a few redundancies and ambiguity in some definitions. Whilst primarily developed for research, implementation of CDE templates for use in clinical practice is advocated, but this will require development of an abbreviated version. In conclusion, with this study, we provide an educational resource for clinicians and researchers to help assess, characterize, and report the vast and complex spectrum of imaging findings in patients with TBI. Our data provides a comprehensive overview of the contemporary landscape of TBI imaging pathology in Europe, and the findings can serve as empirical evidence for updating the current NINDS radiologic CDEs to version 3.0.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thijs Vande Vyvere
- Department of Radiology, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Molecular Imaging and Radiology (MIRA), Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Dana Pisică
- Department of Neurosurgery, Erasmus MC - University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC - University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Guido Wilms
- Department of Radiology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lene Claes
- icometrix, Research and Development, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Pieter Van Dyck
- Department of Radiology, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Molecular Imaging and Radiology (MIRA), Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Annemiek Snoeckx
- Department of Radiology, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Molecular Imaging and Radiology (MIRA), Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Luc van den Hauwe
- Department of Radiology, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Pim Pullens
- Department of Imaging, University Hospital Ghent; IBITech/MEDISIP, Engineering and Architecture, Ghent University; Ghent Institute for Functional and Metabolic Imaging, Ghent University, Belgium
| | - Jan Verheyden
- icometrix, Research and Development, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Max Wintermark
- Department of Neuroradiology, University of Texas MD Anderson Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Sven Dekeyzer
- Department of Radiology, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Radiology, University Hospital Ghent, Belgium
| | - Christine L Mac Donald
- Department of Neurological Surgery, School of Medicine, Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Neurological Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Andrew I R Maas
- Department of Neurosurgery, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Paul M Parizel
- Department of Radiology, Royal Perth Hospital (RPH) and University of Western Australia (UWA), Perth, Australia; Western Australia National Imaging Facility (WA NIF) node, Australia
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Zaikos TD, Yousem DM, Troncoso JC, Nix JS. Radiologic-pathologic autopsy correlation of an internal watershed infarct, a case report. Autops Case Rep 2023; 13:e2023448. [PMID: 38034516 PMCID: PMC10687791 DOI: 10.4322/acr.2023.448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
Internal watershed infarcts (IWIs) occur at the junction of the deep and superficial perforating arterial branches of the cerebrum. Despite documentation in the radiology literature, IWIs are rarely encountered at the time of autopsy. Here, we report the case of a 59-year-old incarcerated male who was brought to the emergency department after being found unresponsive on the floor of his jail cell. Initial examination and imaging demonstrated right-sided hemiplegia, aphasia, right facial droop, and severe stenosis of the left middle cerebral artery, respectively. Repeat imaging 4 days after admission and 26 days before death demonstrated advanced stenosis of the intracranial, communicating segment of the right internal carotid artery, a large acute infarct in the right posterior cerebral artery territory, and bilateral deep white matter ischemic changes with a right-sided "rosary-like" pattern of injury that is typical of IWIs. Postmortem gross examination showed that the right deep white matter lesion had progressed to a confluent, "cigar-shaped" subacute IWI involving the right corona radiata. This is the first well-documented case of an IWI with radiologic imaging and photographic gross pathology correlation. This case uniquely highlights a rarely encountered lesion at the time of autopsy and provides an excellent visual representation of internal watershed neuroanatomy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Dimitrios Zaikos
- The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Department of Pathology, Division of Neuropathology, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - David M Yousem
- The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Department of Radiology, Division of Neuroradiology, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Juan C Troncoso
- The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Department of Pathology, Division of Neuropathology, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - James Stephen Nix
- University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Department of Pathology, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
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Qiao X, Duan J, Zhang N, Duan Y, Wang X, Pei Y, Xu Z, Yang B, Qi M, Li J. Risk Factors of Impaired Perfusion in Patients With Symptomatic Internal Carotid Artery Steno-Occlusive Disease. Front Neurol 2022; 13:801413. [PMID: 35493842 PMCID: PMC9046650 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.801413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective To quantitatively evaluate the impaired perfusion status of patients with symptomatic internal carotid artery (ICA) steno-occlusive disease and to explore the risk factors of impaired perfusion with computed tomography perfusion (CTP). Methods The clinical and imaging data of 187 patients with ICA steno-occlusive disease were retrospectively analyzed. The ICA stenosis rate was divided into Grades I–IV (70–79%; 80–89%; 90–99%; 100%), and the circle of Willis was classified as four types (types I–IV). According to the literature, the value of cerebral blood flow/cerebral blood volume (CBF/CBV) of 7.55/min was used as cut-off to predict symptomatic patients. All patients were categorized into two groups: those with impaired perfusion [n = 99 (52.9%)] and those without impaired perfusion [n = 88 (47.1%)]. Symmetrical bilateral internal watershed areas were selected as the regions of interest (ROIs). Statistical analysis was made on the status of impaired perfusion and the risk factors of impaired perfusion. Results Univariate analysis revealed that systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), types of the circle of Willis, and clinical features at admission differed between the two groups (patients with or without impaired perfusion) (p < 0.05). Multiple logistic stepwise regression analysis showed that MAP [odds ratio (OR) = 0.946, 95% confidential interval (CI) = 0.917–0.974, p < 0.001] and type IV (type I vs. IV: OR = 4.987, 95% CI = 1.955–12.723, p = 0.001) at admission were independently associated with impaired perfusion in the internal watershed areas. Conclusion MAP and the type of circle of Willis at admission are independent risk factors associated with the impaired perfusion in patients with ICA steno-occlusive disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinxin Qiao
- Department of Radiology, The General Hospital of Northern Theatre Command, Shenyang, China
- Jinzhou Medical University General Hospital of Northern Theatre Command Postgraduate Training Base, Shenyang, China
| | - Jinfeng Duan
- Department of General Surgery, The General Hospital of Northern Theatre Command, Shenyang, China
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Nan Zhang
- Department of Radiology, The General Hospital of Northern Theatre Command, Shenyang, China
| | - Yang Duan
- Department of Radiology, The General Hospital of Northern Theatre Command, Shenyang, China
| | - Xinrui Wang
- Department of Radiology, The General Hospital of Northern Theatre Command, Shenyang, China
| | - Yusong Pei
- Department of Radiology, The General Hospital of Northern Theatre Command, Shenyang, China
| | - Zhihua Xu
- Department of Radiology, The General Hospital of Northern Theatre Command, Shenyang, China
- Department of Radiology, TongDe Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Zhihua Xu
| | - Benqiang Yang
- Department of Radiology, The General Hospital of Northern Theatre Command, Shenyang, China
- Benqiang Yang
| | - Miao Qi
- Department of Radiology, The General Hospital of Northern Theatre Command, Shenyang, China
| | - Jinze Li
- Jinzhou Medical University General Hospital of Northern Theatre Command Postgraduate Training Base, Shenyang, China
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Grange R, Grange S, Lutz N, Garnier P, Marinescu D, Varvat J, Barral FG, Boutet C, Schneider FC. Internal border zone injury predicts the functional outcome of acute MCA stroke patients. J Neuroradiol 2022; 50:281-287. [PMID: 35385772 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurad.2022.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Classification of deep (D), superficial (S) MCA territories and their junctional vascular area (the internal border zone, IBZ) can help to identify patients most likely to benefit from aggressive reperfusion therapy after stroke. We tested the prognostic value of an IBZ injury compared to DWI-ASPECTS and infarct volume. MATERIALS AND METHODS DW lesions of 168 patients with acute (4.2±6.5 h) MCA strokes were retrospectively examined and manually delineated. Patients with haemorrhagic transformation or other neurological diseases were excluded. Clinical data were recorded within 24 h following symptom onset and 48 h for patients who benefited from reperfusion therapy. The occurrence of an IBZ injury was determined using a standardized stereotaxic atlas. Performance to predict a good outcome (mRS<3 at 3 months) was estimated through ROC curves for DWI-ASPECTS≤6, lesion volume≥100 mL and IBZ injury. Logistic regression models were performed to estimate independent outcomes for infarct volume and IBZ injury. RESULTS Infarcts involving the IBZ were larger (94.9±98.8 mL vs. 30.2±31.3 mL), had higher NIHSS (13.8±7.2 vs. 7.2±5.7), more frequent MCA occlusions (64.9% vs. 28.3%), and worse outcomes (mRS 3.0±1.8 vs. 1.9±1.7), and were less responsive to IVtPA (34±47% vs. 55±48% of NIHSS improvement). The area under the ROC curves was comparable between the occurrence of IBZ injury (0.651), ASPECTS≤6 (0.657) and volume≥100 mL (0.629). Logistic regression analyses showed an independent effect of an IBZ injury, especially for superficial MCA strokes and for patients who benefited from reperfusion therapy. CONCLUSION An IBZ injury is an early and independent marker of stroke severity, functional prognosis and treatment responsiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Grange
- Radiology Department, CHU de Saint Etienne, Avenue Albert Raimond, 42270 Saint-Priest-En-Jarez, France
| | - S Grange
- Radiology Department, CHU de Saint Etienne, Avenue Albert Raimond, 42270 Saint-Priest-En-Jarez, France
| | - N Lutz
- Radiology Department, CHU de Saint Etienne, Avenue Albert Raimond, 42270 Saint-Priest-En-Jarez, France
| | - P Garnier
- Neurology Department, CHU de Saint Etienne, Avenue Albert Raimond, 42270 Saint-Priest-En-Jarez, France
| | - D Marinescu
- Neurology Department, CHU de Saint Etienne, Avenue Albert Raimond, 42270 Saint-Priest-En-Jarez, France
| | - J Varvat
- Neurology Department, CHU de Saint Etienne, Avenue Albert Raimond, 42270 Saint-Priest-En-Jarez, France
| | - F G Barral
- Radiology Department, CHU de Saint Etienne, Avenue Albert Raimond, 42270 Saint-Priest-En-Jarez, France
| | - C Boutet
- Radiology Department, CHU de Saint Etienne, Avenue Albert Raimond, 42270 Saint-Priest-En-Jarez, France; TAPE, EA7423, University of Lyon, Saint Etienne, France
| | - F C Schneider
- Radiology Department, CHU de Saint Etienne, Avenue Albert Raimond, 42270 Saint-Priest-En-Jarez, France; TAPE, EA7423, University of Lyon, Saint Etienne, France.
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Ha SY, Kim SE, Shin KJ, Park J, Park KM, Kim SE, Park S, Lee DA, Liebeskind DS. Existence and Significance of Internal Border Zone Infarcts with Accessory Lesions Located in the Anteromedial Temporal Lobe. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis 2021; 30:106004. [PMID: 34325272 DOI: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2021.106004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To examine the existence and significance of internal border zone (IBZ) infarcts with accessory lesions in the anteromedial temporal lobe (ATL). MATERIALS AND METHODS IBZ infarcts located at the corona radiata were selected based on diffusion-weighted imaging of 2535 consecutive patients with ischemic stroke and the presence of lesions in the ATL was identified. The Mann-Whitney U test, Student t-test, Pearson χ2 test, or Fisher exact test was used to analyze differences between the IBZ infarct groups with and without accessory lesions in the ATL. RESULTS Thirty-six of 2535 patients (1.4%) had IBZ infarcts. The IBZ group with accessory lesions in the ATL (17 cases, 47.2%) showed a higher portion of occluded middle cerebral arteries than the IBZ group without accessory lesions in the ATL (p = 0.02). The initial National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score (odds ratio, 2.03; 95% confidence interval, 1.04-3.99; = 0.039) and progression after admission (odds ratio, 25.43; 95% confidence interval, 2.47-261.99; p = 0.007) were independently associated with poor prognosis in patients with IBZ infarcts. There were no differences in the progression rate and clinical outcomes, regardless of the presence of lesions in the ATL. CONCLUSIONS Our study suggests the existence of a distinct type of IBZ infarct characterized by accessory lesions in the ATL, which is associated with different arterial features but has a similar clinical course to IBZ infarcts without accessory lesions in the ATL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sam Yeol Ha
- Department of Neurology, Chung-Ang University Hospital, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Sung Eun Kim
- Department of Neurology, Haeundae Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Haeundae-ro 875, Haeundae-gu, Busan, South Korea
| | - Kyong Jin Shin
- Department of Neurology, Haeundae Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Haeundae-ro 875, Haeundae-gu, Busan, South Korea
| | - JinSe Park
- Department of Neurology, Haeundae Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Haeundae-ro 875, Haeundae-gu, Busan, South Korea
| | - Kang Min Park
- Department of Neurology, Haeundae Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Haeundae-ro 875, Haeundae-gu, Busan, South Korea
| | - Si Eun Kim
- Department of Neurology, Haeundae Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Haeundae-ro 875, Haeundae-gu, Busan, South Korea
| | - Seongho Park
- Department of Neurology, Haeundae Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Haeundae-ro 875, Haeundae-gu, Busan, South Korea
| | - Dong Ah Lee
- Department of Neurology, Haeundae Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Haeundae-ro 875, Haeundae-gu, Busan, South Korea
| | - David S Liebeskind
- Department of Neurology, UCLA Stroke Center, University of California, 635 Charles E. Young Drive South, Suite 225, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
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Comparison of Ischemic and Hemorrhagic Stroke in the Medical Ward of Dessie Referral Hospital, Northeast Ethiopia: A Retrospective Study. Neurol Res Int 2021; 2021:9996958. [PMID: 34258063 PMCID: PMC8257343 DOI: 10.1155/2021/9996958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Distinguishing the category of stroke plays a vital role in planning patient care. Simple clinical findings help distinguish the type of stroke. However, there is a need for diagnostic imaging. In Ethiopia, stroke is the most common neurological condition in patients admitted to hospitals. Yet, there are limited data on comparisons of stroke subtypes. Thus, this study was designed to determine the prevalence of stroke and to compare ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes. Methods A retrospective cross-sectional study design was employed. Medical records containing complete information and confirmed diagnosis using imaging techniques were included. The data were entered into SPSS version 24.0 for analysis. Results with a P value of <0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results From a total of 312 stroke patients, 204 (65.4%) patients were admitted due to ischemic stroke. More females, 59 (18.9%), were admitted for hemorrhagic stroke than males. In both ischemic, 175 (56.1%) and hemorrhagic, 91 (29.2%) stroke cases, most of the patients were 45 years and above. Middle cerebral artery territory was the most common site of arterial territory infarctions in ischemic stroke, 158 (50.7%). Middle cerebral artery territory also was the most common site of hematoma in hemorrhagic stroke, 91 (29.2%). Infarctions in more than one lobe of the cerebrum (16.4%) and intracerebral hemorrhage in multiple areas of the cerebrum (7.4%) were observed in ischemic as well as hemorrhagic stroke cases. Most of the ischemic, 124 (39.8%), and hemorrhagic, 39 (12.5%), stroke patients presented loss of sensation and weakness of body parts. Hypertension was observed in 124 (39.8%) ischemic and 73 (23.4%) hemorrhagic stroke patients. The mortality rate of ischemic stroke, 47 (15.3%), was two times higher than hemorrhagic stroke, 20 (6.5%). Hypertension was the most common predictor of death in both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke cases. Conclusions Ischemic stroke is a common type of stroke in the medical ward of the study hospital. More females were affected by hemorrhagic stroke than males. Middle cerebral artery territory was the most affected area of the brain in both ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes. Most ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke patients were admitted due to loss of sensation and weakness of body parts. Hypertension was the most common risk factor of stroke as well as a predictor of stroke-related deaths. Identification of the stroke subtypes may be important in the management of stroke. Thus, health professionals, government officials, community leaders, and the population at large could be involved in creating awareness about antecedent risk factors and clinical presentations of stroke subtypes.
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Ferro DA, Mutsaerts HJ, Hilal S, Kuijf HJ, Petersen ET, Petr J, van Veluw SJ, Venketasubramanian N, Yeow TB, Biessels GJ, Chen C. Cortical microinfarcts in memory clinic patients are associated with reduced cerebral perfusion. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 2020; 40:1869-1878. [PMID: 31558107 PMCID: PMC7430096 DOI: 10.1177/0271678x19877403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Cerebral cortical microinfarcts (CMIs) are small ischemic lesions associated with cognitive impairment and dementia. CMIs are frequently observed in cortical watershed areas suggesting that hypoperfusion contributes to their development. We investigated if presence of CMIs was related to a decrease in cerebral perfusion, globally or specifically in cortex surrounding CMIs. In 181 memory clinic patients (mean age 72 ± 9 years, 51% male), CMI presence was rated on 3-T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Cerebral perfusion was assessed from cortical gray matter of the anterior circulation using pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling parameters cerebral blood flow (CBF) (perfusion in mL blood/100 g tissue/min) and spatial coefficient of variation (CoV) (reflecting arterial transit time (ATT)). Patients with CMIs had a 12% lower CBF (beta = -.20) and 22% higher spatial CoV (beta = .20) (both p < .05) without a specific regional pattern on voxel-based CBF analysis. CBF in a 2 cm region-of-interest around the CMIs did not differ from CBF in a reference zone in the contralateral hemisphere. These findings show that CMIs in memory clinic patients are primarily related to global reductions in cerebral perfusion, thus shedding new light on the etiology of vascular brain injury in dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doeschka A Ferro
- Department of Neurology, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Henri Jjm Mutsaerts
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands.,Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Saima Hilal
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine & Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands.,Memory Aging and Cognition Centre, Department of Pharmacology, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Hugo J Kuijf
- Image Sciences Institute, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Esben T Petersen
- Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance, Centre for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital Hvidovre, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jan Petr
- Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Dresden, Germany
| | - Susanne J van Veluw
- Department of Neurology, J.P.K. Stroke Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, USA
| | | | | | - Geert Jan Biessels
- Department of Neurology, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Christopher Chen
- Memory Aging and Cognition Centre, Department of Pharmacology, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
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Amano Y, Sano H, Fujimoto A, Kenmochi H, Sato H, Akamine S. Cortical and Internal Watershed Infarcts Might Be Key Signs for Predicting Neurological Deterioration in Patients with Internal Carotid Artery Occlusion with Mild Symptoms. Cerebrovasc Dis Extra 2020; 10:76-83. [PMID: 32726784 PMCID: PMC7443627 DOI: 10.1159/000508090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Treatment for acute ischemic stroke due to large vessel occlusion (LVO) with mild symptoms is under discussion. Although most patients have good outcomes, some patients deteriorate and have unfavorable results. Imaging findings that predict the prognosis of LVO with mild symptoms are needed to identify patients who require treatment. In this study, we focused on watershed infarctions (WSIs), because this clinical phenomenon quite sensitively reflects changes in cerebral blood flow. The purpose of this study was to assess positive rates of WSI on MRI findings in patients with internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion, and compare WSI-positive rates between patients divided according to their clinical course. Methods We retrospectively collected data of 1,531 patients who presented with acute ischemic stroke between June 2006 and July 2019. Among them, we chose symptomatic ICA occlusion patients with a past history of atrial fibrillation who were treated conservatively. We divided these patients into two groups, those with maintenance or improvement in their NIHSS score after hospitalization, and those whose NIHSS score worsened. We compared WSI-positive rates between these two groups. Results Thirty-seven of the 1,531 patients were included in this study. Of them, total NIHSS score was maintained or improved in 8 patients (group A), 3 of whom (37.5%) had internal watershed infarctions (IWIs). In group B, consisting of patients whose NIHSS score worsened by >2 at 7 days from symptom onset, 24 (82.8%) had IWIs. Group A thus had statistically lower IWI positivity rates than group B (p = 0.02). Three patients (37.5%) in group A had cortical watershed infarctions (CWIs), while 27 patients in group B (93.1%) had CWIs. Group A thus had a significantly lower CWI positivity rate than group B (p = 0.002). Conclusion In patients with mildly symptomatic ICA occlusion, CWIs and IWIs might be key signs for predicting neurological deterioration after hospitalization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuki Amano
- Department of Neurosurgery, Seirei Mikatahara General Hospital, Hamamatsu, Japan
| | - Hiroyasu Sano
- Department of Stroke Center, Seirei Mikatahara General Hospital, Seirei Hamamatsu General Hospital, Hamamatsu, Japan
| | - Ayataka Fujimoto
- Epilepsy Center, Seirei Hamamatsu General Hospital, Hamamatsu, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Kenmochi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Seirei Mikatahara General Hospital, Hamamatsu, Japan
| | - Haruhiko Sato
- Department of Neurosurgery, Seirei Mikatahara General Hospital, Hamamatsu, Japan
| | - Soichi Akamine
- Department of Stroke Center, Seirei Mikatahara General Hospital, Seirei Hamamatsu General Hospital, Hamamatsu, Japan,
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Clinical significance of common-stem lenticulostriate arteries in patients with internal watershed infarction. Neurol Sci 2019; 40:2303-2309. [DOI: 10.1007/s10072-019-03953-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2019] [Accepted: 05/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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10
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Clinical, demographic and neuroradiological features of different types of cerebral border zone infarcts in North-west India. INDIAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SPECIALITIES 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.injms.2018.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
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El-Gammal TM, Bahnasy WS, Ragab OAA, Al-Malt AM. Cerebral border zone infarction: an etiological study. THE EGYPTIAN JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY, PSYCHIATRY AND NEUROSURGERY 2018; 54:6. [PMID: 29780226 PMCID: PMC5954770 DOI: 10.1186/s41983-018-0008-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2017] [Accepted: 03/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Border zone infarcts (BZI) are ischemic lesions at the junction between two main arterial territories which may be either cortical or internal BZI. Methods This study was conducted on 76 cerebral BZI patients and 20 healthy control subjects. Patients were divided to group I included 26 internal BZI, group II included 19 cortical BZI and group III included 21 mixed internal/cortical BZI patients. Included subjects were submitted to neurological examination, laboratory investigations, ECG, echocardiogram, brain CT and/or MRI and extra and intracranial blood vessels imaging by duplex and CT angiography. Results Hypertension was significantly higher among groups I and III compared to group II while atrial fibrillation (AF) was significantly higher in groups II and III than group I (p < 0.05). Sonographic duplex assessment of extra and intracranial blood vessels revealed significant increase in mean flow velocities of CCA, ICC and MCA on both side in groups I and III compared to group II (p < 0.05). CT angiography revealed non-significant differences between BZI patients and control as well as in between the three BZI patient's groups regarding the existence of vertebral artery hypoplasia and/or circle of Willis anomalies. Conclusions Vascular stenosis is the main etiological factor in internal BZI while AF is the predominant etiological factor of cortical BZI. Congenital vascular anomalies play roles in the localization of BZI but cannot predispose to it except when comorbid with hemodynamic disturbances.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Wafik Said Bahnasy
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, 31527 Egypt
| | - Osama Abd Allah Ragab
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, 31527 Egypt
| | - Ayman Mohammed Al-Malt
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, 31527 Egypt
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Slater T, Stanik-Hutt J, Davidson P. Cerebral perfusion monitoring in adult patients following cardiac surgery: an observational study. Contemp Nurse 2018; 53:669-680. [PMID: 29284341 DOI: 10.1080/10376178.2017.1422392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Following adult cardiac surgery, often difficult to detect fluctuations in regional cerebral perfusion can contribute to strokes. Optimal cerebral perfusion remains elusive and traditional monitoring strategies do not consistently identify acute changes. Non-invasive cerebral oximetry may detect perfusion variations. OBJECTIVE To assess the feasibility of postoperative non-invasive cerebral oximetry monitoring. METHODS Non-invasive cerebral oximetry was performed on adult aortic valve surgery patients in a cardiac surgical intensive care unit. Monitoring feasibility was assessed using an investigator-developed, data extraction tool. RESULTS Non-invasive cerebral oximetry was completed in 94% of patients. Sixty percent had values that fell below pre-set ischemic threshold. Nurses reported monitoring was feasible, and they perceived identifying deleterious cerebral perfusion trends may improve patient care. CONCLUSIONS Prevalence of low cerebral oximetry values underscores the importance of increasing sensitivity of monitoring tools. Further evaluation is required to assess this modality and the role of nurses in optimizing neurocognitive outcomes. Impact statement: Cerebral oximetry monitoring may help identify adult patients at risk of neurological complications after cardiac surgery, and as a consequence initiate definitive therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tammy Slater
- a Adult/Gerontology - Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Program, School of Nursing , Johns Hopkins University , 525 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore , 21205 , MD , USA
| | - Julie Stanik-Hutt
- b Adult/Gerontology - Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Track, College of Nursing , University of Iowa , 101 College of Nursing Building, 50 Newton Road, Iowa City , IA 52242 , USA
| | - Patricia Davidson
- c School of Nursing , Johns Hopkins University , 525 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore , MD 21205 , USA
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The Pathophysiology of Watershed Infarction: A Three-Dimensional Time-of-Flight Magnetic Resonance Angiography Study. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis 2017; 26:1966-1973. [PMID: 28694111 DOI: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2017.06.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2017] [Accepted: 06/08/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Most of the time, watershed infarcts (WIs) involve steno-occlusive carotid disease. The pathophysiological mechanism could be predicted by their pattern: internal WIs (IWIs) are thought to be due to hemodynamic impairment in contrast to cortical WIs (CWIs), which are more likely to be caused by microembolic phenomena. We used a 3D time-of-flight (TOF) magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) study to assess this hypothesis. METHODS In 45 consecutive patients with a recent WI and ipsilateral cervical carotid stenosis, clinical and radiological data were obtained retrospectively. 3D TOF MRA were analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively (internal carotid and anterior, middle and posterior cerebral arteries). Then, 2 groups were determined depending on their radiological patterns: WIs with (IWI+) or without (IWI-) an internal watershed. RESULTS Thirty-two of the 45 patients (71%) had IWIs that were or were not associated with CWIs (IWI+), while 13 patients (29%) had only CWIs (IWI-). There was no significant relationship between the radiological pattern and the demographic data, the cardiovascular risk factors, or the degree of stenosis. However, IWI+ patients more frequently had motor weakness (P = .03) than CWI patients. An ipsilateral reduced middle cerebral artery intensity on 3D TOF MRA in both qualitative and quantitative analyses was significantly associated with IWI+. Instead within IWI-, no significantly reduced signal intensity was found. CONCLUSION These findings originally support the view that IWIs are mainly caused by a hemodynamic impairment related to carotid stenosis, whereas CWIs are mostly due to a microembolic mechanism. 3D TOF MRA, which gives pertinent information on pathophysiology on IWIs, can help in decision making.
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Detection of single-phase CTA occult vessel occlusions in acute ischemic stroke using CT perfusion-based wavelet-transformed angiography. Eur Radiol 2017; 27:2657-2664. [DOI: 10.1007/s00330-016-4613-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2016] [Revised: 08/21/2016] [Accepted: 09/15/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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15
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Ryan DJ, Kenny RA, Finucane C, Meaney JF, Collins DR, Walsh S, Harbison JA. Abnormal orthostatic blood pressure control among subjects with lacunar infarction. Eur Stroke J 2016; 1:222-230. [PMID: 31008283 DOI: 10.1177/2396987316663287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2016] [Accepted: 07/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Hypertension is a recognised risk factor for lacunar stroke. However, their association has been evaluated using static blood pressure (BP) assessment in supine or sitting position alone. We hypothesised that impaired dynamic (orthostatic) BP control may associate with lacunar strokes. Patients and methods Consecutive subjects with mitral regurgitation (MR) confirmed, lacunar strokes were compared with two control groups. Firstly "normal", age and sex matched, population controls (1:3 ratio) and then 'at risk' controls matched for age, sex, hypertension history and antihypertensive medication (1:2 ratio). Orthostatic BP control was assessed by active stand tests with continuous, phasic, beat-to-beat BP measurement. Findings Thirty-six subjects (mean 69.9 years) were compared with 108 controls in group 1 and 72 in group 2. Prevalence of syncope was higher among those with lacunar stroke (cases: 44.4%, group 1: 17.6%, p = 0.003, group 2: 12.5%, p = 0.0004, Fisher's exact). Mean baseline systolic BP (SBP) was significantly higher in cases (cases: 150 mm Hg, group 1: 140 mm Hg, p = 0.03, group 2: 143 mm Hg, p = 0.1). Ten seconds after standing, SBP dropped significantly less in cases (cases: -14.1 mm Hg, group 1: -31.4 mm Hg, p < 0.0005, group 2: -27.3 mm Hg, p = 0.001, t test). Diastolic BP also fell significantly less in cases. Cases' SBP and DBP recovered to, then persistently overshot baseline levels. Discussion and conclusion Subjects with MR-defined lacunar stroke, of likely small vessel aetiology, exhibit orthostatic hypertension compared with population norms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J Ryan
- Department of Medical Gerontology, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland.,Acute Stroke Service, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Rose Anne Kenny
- Department of Medical Gerontology, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland.,The Irish Longitudinal Study of Ageing (TILDA), Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Ciaran Finucane
- The Irish Longitudinal Study of Ageing (TILDA), Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
| | - James F Meaney
- Centre for Advanced Medical Imaging (CAMI), St James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Daniel R Collins
- Department of Medical Gerontology, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland.,Acute Stroke Service, Adelaide and Meath Hospital incorporating the National Children's Hospital, Tallaght, Ireland
| | - Suzanne Walsh
- Acute Stroke Service, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Joseph A Harbison
- Department of Medical Gerontology, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland.,Acute Stroke Service, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.,The Irish Longitudinal Study of Ageing (TILDA), Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
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Sorgun MH, Rzayev S, Yilmaz V, Isıkay CT. Etiologic Subtypes of Watershed Infarcts. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis 2015; 24:2478-83. [PMID: 26375794 DOI: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2015.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2015] [Revised: 03/14/2015] [Accepted: 06/08/2015] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Two types of watershed infarcts (WI) are recognized. Internal WI are usually attributed to either severe stenosis in large arteries or acute hypotensive events, whereas external WI are thought to be caused by embolism. The aim of this study was to determine the etiologic background and prognosis of external and internal WI in our patients. METHODS We reviewed the medical records and diffusion-weighted images of the patients who were admitted to our stroke unit with acute ischemic stroke between January 2012 and November 2014. The demographics, clinical features, radiologic investigations, and other etiologic tests of the patients with internal or external WI were recorded. We determined etiologic stroke subtypes according to the automated Causative Classification System. RESULTS Fifty-three patients with WI were detected in our registry. Twenty-two (41.5%) of them were women. The mean age was 69 ± 12.8 (33-98) years. Twenty-one (39.6%) patients had external WI: 7 (33.3%) of them had large-artery atherosclerosis (LAA), 8 (38.1%) patients had cardioembolism, 3 (14.3%) patients had stroke due to other causes (vasculitis; n = 3), and etiologic subtype was undetermined in 3 patients (14.3%). Thirty-two (60.4%) patients had internal WI: 21 (65.6.%) of them had LAA, 5 (15.6%) patients had cardioembolism, 3 (9.4%) patients had stroke due to other causes (aneurysm; n = 1, hypercoagulability due to chronic myeloid leukemia; n = 1, vasculitis; n = 1), and etiologic subtype of 3 (9.4%) patients remained cryptogenic. LAA was significantly associated with internal WI (P = .024). Hypertension was more common in patients with internal WI (P = .035). CONCLUSIONS In this series, cardioembolism was the most common etiologic subtype in the patients with external WI, whereas internal WI were significantly associated with LAA. Uncommon causes should also be investigated in cryptogenic patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mine Hayriye Sorgun
- Department of Neurology, Ankara University School of Medicine, İbni Sina Hospital, Samanpazarı, Ankara, Turkey.
| | - Sefer Rzayev
- Department of Neurology, Ankara University School of Medicine, İbni Sina Hospital, Samanpazarı, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Volkan Yilmaz
- Department of Neurology, Ankara University School of Medicine, İbni Sina Hospital, Samanpazarı, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Canan Togay Isıkay
- Department of Neurology, Ankara University School of Medicine, İbni Sina Hospital, Samanpazarı, Ankara, Turkey
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Abstract
Carotid occlusion is a disease that presents a difficult decision for the treating provider. Traditionally, many providers would opt for expectant management with risk factor reduction and supportive therapy. There is a growing body of literature however pointing to possible improved outcomes of more aggressive treatments, including reopening of the occluded carotid. In this review, we discuss the difficulties involved in diagnosing a patient presenting with symptomatic carotid occlusion, the natural history of the disease, and the emerging treatment options and paradigms of different institutions based on recent literature.
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Psychogios K, Stathopoulos P, Takis K, Vemmou A, Manios E, Spegos K, Vemmos K. The Pathophysiological Mechanism Is an Independent Predictor of Long-Term Outcome in Stroke Patients with Large Vessel Atherosclerosis. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis 2015; 24:2580-7. [PMID: 26283519 DOI: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2015.07.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2015] [Revised: 06/16/2015] [Accepted: 07/16/2015] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Etiopathological mechanisms underlying ischemic stroke play a crucial role in long-term prognosis. We aimed to investigate the association between the mechanism of stroke due to large vessel disease, and long-term outcome. METHODS All consecutive patients registered in the Athens Stroke Registry with atherosclerotic stroke between 1993 and 2010 were included in the analysis. The patients were subdivided into 3 groups according to the presumed underlying mechanism: low-flow infarcts, artery-to-artery embolism, and intrinsic atherosclerosis. They were followed up for up to 10 years or until death. The end points of the study were 10-year all-cause mortality, stroke recurrence, and composite cardiovascular events. RESULTS Five hundred two patients were classified as follows: 156 (31%) as low-flow (watershed) strokes, 256 (51%) as artery-to-artery embolic strokes, and 90 (18%) as intrinsic atherosclerotic strokes. The cumulative probability of 10-year mortality rate was similar between groups of patients with different stroke mechanisms: 49.9% (95% confidence interval [CI], 38.5-61.3) for patients with low-flow mechanism, 47.6% (95% CI, 39.4-55.8) for patients with artery-to-artery embolism, and 48.5% (95% CI, 34.0-63.0) for patients with intrinsic atherosclerosis. Patients in the intrinsic atherosclerosis group had significantly higher risks of recurrence (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] = 2.1; 95% CI, 1.19-3.73) compared with those in the artery-to-artery embolism group. Moreover, patients in the intrinsic atherosclerosis and low-flow groups had significantly higher risks of composite cardiovascular events compared with those in the artery-to-artery embolism group (adjusted HR = 1.94; 95% CI, 1.26-3.00; and adjusted HR = 1.64; 95% CI, 1.13-2.38, respectively). CONCLUSION Low-flow and intrinsic atherosclerosis strokes are associated with a high risk for future cardiovascular events and stroke recurrence. However, long-term mortality is similar across different subgroups.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Anastasia Vemmou
- Acute Stroke Unit, Department of Clinical Therapeutics, Medical School of Athens, Alexandra Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Efstathios Manios
- Acute Stroke Unit, Department of Clinical Therapeutics, Medical School of Athens, Alexandra Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Konstantinos Spegos
- Department of Neurology, Eginition Hospital, University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece
| | - Konstantinos Vemmos
- Acute Stroke Unit, Department of Clinical Therapeutics, Medical School of Athens, Alexandra Hospital, Athens, Greece; Stroke Division, Hellenic Cardiovascular Research Society, Athens, Greece
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Ryan DJ, Kenny RA, Christensen S, Meaney JFM, Fagan AJ, Harbison J. Ischaemic stroke or TIA in older subjects associated with impaired dynamic blood pressure control in the absence of severe large artery stenosis. Age Ageing 2015; 44:655-61. [PMID: 25716898 DOI: 10.1093/ageing/afv011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2014] [Accepted: 11/28/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND older subjects may require higher baseline blood pressures to maintain cerebral perfusion. We investigated whether episodic hypotension is associated with tissue infarction in subjects with syncopal symptoms at stroke onset. METHODS over 30 months, all acute strokes/TIAs were prospectively screened for symptoms of syncope or presyncope at stroke onset. Subjects with severe large vessel stenosis were excluded, while cases were referred for syncope unit investigation. All underwent 1.5 T MRI acutely, and suspected borderzone infarctions (BZI) were confirmed through Matlab-derived perfusion software. Case-control comparison was derived from stroke controls with no prior syncope history. RESULTS thirty-eight of 772 stroke patients described presyncope or syncope at stroke onset and had patent large vessels (4.9% of all strokes). Median age was 72 years (IQR 21.4). Twenty-two patients (58%) were prescribed antihypertensive agents at symptom onset. Twenty-six (68.4%) reported focal neurology <24 h in duration. 63.2% (n = 24) of cases reported prior syncope history, compared with 33% (N = 103) of controls, P < 0.001. Cases exhibited greater orthostatic BP drop than controls, P < 0.05 Twenty-four patients were diagnosed with vasovagal syncope through head-up tilt symptom reproduction, 9 with orthostatic hypotension, 4 with cardiac syncope and 1 with carotid sinus syndrome. Nineteen (50%) patients had an acute infarct on MRI, 14 of these were in the arterial borderzone (73.6%). The BZI group were significantly older than the non-BZI group, 79.2 yrs versus 63.3 yrs, P = 0.002. CONCLUSION subjects reporting hypotensive symptoms at stroke onset have a higher prevalence of borderzone infarction, despite being normotensive or hypertensive at baseline.
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Affiliation(s)
- D J Ryan
- Department of Medical Gerontology, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - R A Kenny
- Department of Medical Gerontology, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - S Christensen
- Department of Neurology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - J F M Meaney
- Centre for Advanced Medical Imaging, St. James's Hospital/School of Medicine, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - A J Fagan
- Centre for Advanced Medical Imaging, St. James's Hospital/School of Medicine, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - J Harbison
- Department of Medical Gerontology, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland
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Abang Abdullah KH, Mohamed Saini S, Sharip S, Abdul Rahman AH. Psychosis post corona radiata and lentiform nucleus infarction. BMJ Case Rep 2015; 2015:bcr2014208954. [PMID: 25837653 PMCID: PMC4401925 DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2014-208954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Complications of stroke can include neuropsychiatric symptoms. However, post-stroke psychosis is rare. We report a case where an acute presentation of psychosis, depression and fluctuating cognitive impairment in a middle-aged man turned out to be related to a silent brain infarction. The patient had a background of poorly controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus with glycated haemoglobin level of 9.0-11.0%, hypertension and ischaemic heart disease. His CT brain results showed multifocal infarct with hypodensities at bilateral lentiform nucleus and bilateral corona radiata. His strong genetic predisposition of psychosis and a history of brief psychotic disorder with complete remission 3 years prior to the current presentation might possibly contribute to his post-stroke atypical neuropsychiatric presentation, and posed diagnostic challenges. He showed marked improvement with risperidone 6 mg nocte, chlorpromazine 50 mg nocte and fluvoxamine of 200 mg nocte. The need of comprehensive treatments to modify his stroke risk factors was addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khadijah Hasanah Abang Abdullah
- Department of Psychiatry, UKM Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia
- Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Nilai, Malaysia
| | - Suriati Mohamed Saini
- Department of Psychiatry, UKM Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia
| | - Shalisah Sharip
- Department of Psychiatry, UKM Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia
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Visuospatial Learning in Traumatic Brain Injury: An Examination of Impairments using the Computerised Austin Maze Task. BRAIN IMPAIR 2015. [DOI: 10.1017/brimp.2015.3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
An important aspect of cognitive functioning that is often impaired following traumatic brain injury (TBI) is visuospatial learning and memory. The Austin Maze task is a measure of visuospatial learning that has a long history in both clinical neuropsychological practice and research, particularly in individuals with TBI. The aim of this study was to evaluate visuospatial learning deficits following TBI using a new computerised version of the Austin Maze task. Twenty-eight individuals with moderate-to-severe TBI were compared to 28 healthy controls on this task, together with alternative neuropsychological measures, including the WAIS-III Digit Symbol and Digit Span subtests, the Trail Making Test, WMS-III Logical Memory, and Rey Osterrieth Complex Figure Test. The results demonstrated that TBI individuals performed significantly more poorly on the Austin Maze task than control participants. The Austin Maze task also demonstrated good convergent and divergent validity with the alternative neuropsychological measures. Thus, the computerised version of the Austin Maze appears to be a sensitive measure that can detect visuospatial learning impairments in individuals with moderate-to-severe TBI. The new computerised version of the task offers much promise in that it is more accessible and easier to administer than the conventional form of the test.
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Kumral E, Deveci EE, Çolak AY, Çağında AD, Erdoğan C. Multiple variant type thalamic infarcts: pure and combined types. Acta Neurol Scand 2015; 131:102-10. [PMID: 25109495 DOI: 10.1111/ane.12290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/14/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Variant topographic patterns of thalamic infarction with distinct manifestations have been classified into three territories: anteromedian, central, and posterolateral. The purpose of this study was to determine clinical, etiological, and radiological features of multiple variant thalamic infarcts. METHODS We reviewed 8400 patients with a first clinical stroke included in the Ege Stroke Registry between 2000 and 2013. Among 80 patients with an acute multiple thalamic infarcts confirmed by MRI, we selected all patients with lesions outside the classical territories and studied their clinical, etiological, and radiological features. RESULTS Among 8400 patients with first-ever stroke in our registry, 21 patients (26% of all multiple thalamic infarcts) showed infarction outside the classical territories, allowing us to delineate three variant distributions; (i) unilateral multiple variant infarcts [seven patients (9%) in the anteromedian, central, and posterolateral territories] presented with predominantly decreased vigilance (66% with right lesions, 75% with left lesions), cognitive impairment including amnesia (71%), aphasia (57%) in left-sided or bilateral lesions, and executive dysfunction (43%). The most frequent stroke mechanism was cardioembolism (43%). (ii) Bilateral multiple variant infarcts [five patients (6%)], with lesions on the variant territories of the thalamus, resulting in a variety of neurological and neuropsychological signs, consciousness disturbances (80%), sensory-motor deficits (80%). Cardioembolism (60%) was the most frequent etiology. (iii) Combined multiple variant and classical infarcts [nine patients (11%)], characterized by hemihypesthesia (89%) as the most frequent manifestation, followed by hemiataxia (78%), and cognitive deficits. Cardioembolism (56%) and large-artery disease of the vertebrobasilar system (33%) were the main stroke mechanisms. CONCLUSIONS We described multiple variant topographic patterns of thalamic infarction with distinct manifestations and etiologies. We thought that multiple variant infarcts are the result of variation in thalamic arterial supply or reflect a source of embolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- E. Kumral
- Stroke Unit; Neurology Department; School of Medicine; Ege University; İzmir Turkey
| | - E. E. Deveci
- Stroke Unit; Neurology Department; School of Medicine; Ege University; İzmir Turkey
| | - A. Y. Çolak
- Stroke Unit; Neurology Department; School of Medicine; Ege University; İzmir Turkey
| | - A. D. Çağında
- Stroke Unit; Neurology Department; School of Medicine; Ege University; İzmir Turkey
| | - C. Erdoğan
- Stroke Unit; Neurology Department; School of Medicine; Ege University; İzmir Turkey
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Müller H, Fisch L, Viaccoz A, Bonvin C, Lovblad K, Cuvinciuc V, Sztajzel RF. Embolic and Hemodynamic Transcranial Doppler Characteristics in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke due to Carotid Occlusive Disease: Contribution to the Different Infarct Patterns on MRI. J Neuroimaging 2014; 25:766-75. [PMID: 25512057 DOI: 10.1111/jon.12197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2014] [Revised: 07/27/2014] [Accepted: 08/16/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Whether hemodynamic and/or embolic transcranial Doppler (TCD) features of internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis contribute to the classification of stroke patterns on MRI. PATIENTS AND METHODS Consecutive patients presenting symptomatic ≥50% ICA stenosis were included. Microembolic signals (MES) detection and measurement of cerebral vasoreactivity (VR) were performed by TCD. Only acute MRI lesions, territorial (TT) and/or borderzone (BZ) were considered. RESULTS A total of 72 ICA stenoses, 27 (38%) moderate (50-69%), and 45 (62%) high grade (70-99%) were included. MRI lesions showed 32 (44%) pure TT, 20 (28%) pure BZ, and 20 (28%) mixed TT and BZ. Impaired VR was found more frequently among patients with higher degrees of stenoses (P < .001) whereas MES were similarly encountered in both groups (P = NS). Impaired VR was more common in the BZ (10/20, 50%) than in the TT group (9/32, 28%, P < .1) while MES were present in 47% (15/32) of patients with TT and in 30% (6/20, P < .1) of those with BZ lesions, in particular in cortical BZ infarcts (P < .02). CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that TCD characteristics of the ICA stenosis contribute to better define stroke patterns on MRI in about one-third of the patients presenting with pure TT or BZ lesions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hubertus Müller
- Department of Neurology, University Hospitals of Geneva Medical School, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Lorraine Fisch
- Department of Neurology, University Hospitals of Geneva Medical School, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Aurelien Viaccoz
- Department of Neurology, University Hospitals of Geneva Medical School, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Christoph Bonvin
- Department of Neurology, University Hospitals of Geneva Medical School, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Karl Lovblad
- Department of Radiology, University Hospitals of Geneva Medical School, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Vitor Cuvinciuc
- Department of Radiology, University Hospitals of Geneva Medical School, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Roman F Sztajzel
- Department of Neurology, University Hospitals of Geneva Medical School, Geneva, Switzerland
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Wang Y, Wang J. Clinical and imaging features in different inner border-zone infarct patterns. Int J Neurosci 2014; 125:208-12. [DOI: 10.3109/00207454.2014.921785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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A pattern approach to focal white matter hyperintensities on magnetic resonance imaging. Radiol Clin North Am 2013; 52:241-61. [PMID: 24582339 DOI: 10.1016/j.rcl.2013.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Evaluation of focal white matter hyperintensities on magnetic resonance imaging in any age group is always challenging because the cause of these hyperintensities varies extensively. Understanding the clinical presentation, pathophysiology, and associated imaging findings can allow the radiologist to limit the differential diagnosis. A specific imaging approach including age, pattern of distribution, signal characteristics on various sequences, enhancement pattern, and other ancillary findings helps to identify a correct cause for these hyperintensities. This article provides a pattern approach to differentiate various common and a few uncommon diseases presenting as focal white matter hyperintensities.
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Li HF, Zhang X, Zhang Y, Pan XD, Zhao HQ, Li H. Clinical and neuroradiological features of internal watershed infarction and the occlusive diseases of carotid artery system. Neurol Res 2013; 32:1090-6. [DOI: 10.1179/016164110x12681290831324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
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Miklossy J. Cerebral hypoperfusion induces cortical watershed microinfarcts which may further aggravate cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease. Neurol Res 2013; 25:605-10. [PMID: 14503014 DOI: 10.1179/016164103101202048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Increasing number of data, including the existence of common risk factors, indicate an association between cerebrovascular disease and Alzheimer's disease (AD). AD is known to be often associated with cerebral hypoperfusion. Recent histopathological evidence showed a significant association between watershed cortical microinfarcts and AD indicating that cerebral hypoperfusion induces not only white matter damage, known as leuko-araiosis, but cortical border zone infarcts as well, further aggravating the degenerative process and worsening dementia. In late stages of Alzheimer's disease--in cases with neuropathologically confirmed definite AD--the occurrence of watershed cortical microinfarcts was ten times higher than in aged matched control cases. Congophilic angiopathy and perturbed hemodynamic factors were found to be important factors in the genesis of watershed microinfarcts. To consider the vulnerability of the cerebral blood flow and the perturbed cortical vascular network in AD is important. Neuroleptic and sedative treatments frequently employed in AD may further accentuate cerebral hypoperfusion by decreasing blood pressure. Therefore, to treat and prevent arterial hypotension and maintain cerebral perfusion at an appropriate level in AD is essential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith Miklossy
- University Institute of Pathology, Division of Neuropathology, CHUV, Lausanne, Switzerland.
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Identification of painless aortic dissection before thrombolytic treatment for acute ischemic stroke. Am J Emerg Med 2013; 31:762.e5-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ajem.2012.12.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2012] [Accepted: 12/12/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
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Cardiovascular risk factors promote brain hypoperfusion leading to cognitive decline and dementia. Cardiovasc Psychiatry Neurol 2012; 2012:367516. [PMID: 23243502 PMCID: PMC3518077 DOI: 10.1155/2012/367516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 270] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2012] [Accepted: 10/30/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Heart disease is the major leading cause of death and disability in the world. Mainly affecting the elderly population, heart disease and its main outcome, cardiovascular disease, have become an important risk factor in the development of cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease (AD). This paper examines the evidence linking chronic brain hypoperfusion induced by a variety of cardiovascular deficits in the development of cognitive impairment preceding AD. The evidence indicates a strong association between AD and cardiovascular risk factors, including ApoE(4), atrial fibrillation, thrombotic events, hypertension, hypotension, heart failure, high serum markers of inflammation, coronary artery disease, low cardiac index, and valvular pathology. In elderly people whose cerebral perfusion is already diminished by their advanced age, additional reduction of cerebral blood flow stemming from abnormalities in the heart-brain vascular loop ostensibly increases the probability of developing AD. Evidence also suggests that a neuronal energy crisis brought on by relentless brain hypoperfusion may be responsible for protein synthesis abnormalities that later result in the classic neurodegenerative lesions involving the formation of amyloid-beta plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Insight into how cardiovascular risk factors can induce progressive cognitive impairment offers an enhanced understanding of the multifactorial pathophysiology characterizing AD and ways at preventing or managing the cardiovascular precursors of this dementia.
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Imaging of stroke: Part 2, Pathophysiology at the molecular and cellular levels and corresponding imaging changes. AJR Am J Roentgenol 2012; 198:63-74. [PMID: 22194480 DOI: 10.2214/ajr.10.7312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Stroke is the third leading cause of death and the leading cause of severe disability. During the "decade of the brain" in the 1990s, the most promising development was the treatment of acute ischemic stroke. It is thought to result from a cascade of events from energy depletion to cell death. In the initial minutes to hour, clinical deficit does not necessarily reflect irreversible damage. The final outcome and residual deficit will be decided by how fast reperfusion is achieved, which in turn depends on how early the diagnosis is made. This article explains the pathophysiology of stroke at the molecular and cellular levels with corresponding changes on various imaging techniques. CONCLUSION The pathophysiology of stroke has several complex mechanisms. Understanding these mechanisms is essential to derive neuroprotective agents that limit neuronal damage after ischemia. Imaging and clinical strategies aimed at extending the therapeutic window for reperfusion treatment with mechanical and pharmacologic thrombolysis will add value to existing treatment strategies. Acute ischemic stroke is defined as abrupt neurologic dysfunction due to focal brain ischemia resulting in persistent neurologic deficit accompanied by characteristic abnormalities on brain imaging. Knowledge of the pathophysiologic mechanisms of neuronal injury in stroke is essential to target treatment. Neuroprotective and thrombolytic agents have been shown to improve clinical outcome. Physiologic imaging with diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and perfusion CT and MRI provide a pathophysiologic substrate of evolving ischemic stroke.
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Mangla R, Kolar B, Almast J, Ekholm SE. Border zone infarcts: pathophysiologic and imaging characteristics. Radiographics 2012; 31:1201-14. [PMID: 21918038 DOI: 10.1148/rg.315105014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 130] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Border zone or watershed infarcts are ischemic lesions that occur in characteristic locations at the junction between two main arterial territories. These lesions constitute approximately 10% of all brain infarcts and are well described in the literature. Their pathophysiology has not yet been fully elucidated, but a commonly accepted hypothesis holds that decreased perfusion in the distal regions of the vascular territories leaves them vulnerable to infarction. Two types of border zone infarcts are recognized: external (cortical) and internal (subcortical). To select the most appropriate methods for managing these infarcts, it is important to understand the underlying causal mechanisms. Internal border zone infarcts are caused mainly by hemodynamic compromise, whereas external border zone infarcts are believed to result from embolism but not always with associated hypoperfusion. Various imaging modalities have been used to determine the presence and extent of hemodynamic compromise or misery perfusion in association with border zone infarcts, and some findings (eg, multiple small internal infarcts) have proved to be independent predictors of subsequent ischemic stroke. A combination of several advanced techniques (eg, diffusion and perfusion magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography, positron emission tomography, transcranial Doppler ultrasonography) can be useful for identifying the pathophysiologic process, making an early clinical diagnosis, guiding management, and predicting the outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajiv Mangla
- Department of Imaging Sciences, University of Rochester, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642-8648, USA.
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Abstract
Haemodynamic stroke is a type of ischaemic stroke that is caused by hypoperfusion rather than by embolism or local vasculopathy. It can be caused by systemic diseases such as heart failure or hypotension, but also by severe obstruction of the carotid or vertebral arteries. Patients with haemodynamic stroke or transient ischaemic attack might show specific clinical features that distinguish them from patients with embolism or local small-vessel disease. Ancillary investigations of cerebral perfusion can show whether blood flow to the brain is compromised and provide important prognostic information. Management of patients who have hypoperfusion as the major cause of ischaemic stroke or as a contributing factor is hampered by the lack of clinical trials. Treatment aimed at increasing cerebral blood flow might be considered in selected patients on the basis of information from case series. Further research is needed to define criteria for the diagnosis of haemodynamic stroke and to investigate treatment options in controlled studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catharina J M Klijn
- Department of Neurology, Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands.
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de la Torre JC. Carotid artery ultrasound and echocardiography testing to lower the prevalence of Alzheimer's disease. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis 2009; 18:319-28. [PMID: 19560690 DOI: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2008.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2008] [Revised: 10/29/2008] [Accepted: 11/03/2008] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of two clinic office techniques, carotid artery ultrasound and echocardiography (CAUSE), to detect deficient brain blood flow delivery in the healthy, cognitively normal, older individual is proposed. Evidence indicates that persistent heart-to-brain blood flow deficit involving low cardiac output or low ejection fraction and carotid artery narrowing can promote cognitive impairment and that such impairment may lead to Alzheimer's disease (AD) or vascular dementia (VaD). A number of independent epidemiologic studies reported cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease to be risk factors to AD and VaD. The clinical rationale for CAUSE is to detect and prevent progression of cognitive dysfunction in elderly persons and is based on the general understanding that mild cognitive impairment is a preclinical threshold to AD or VaD with high conversion rates to either dementia. The use of CAUSE is anticipated to prevent or attenuate, by appropriate clinical management, mild cognitive impairment arising from persistent brain hypoperfusion, a condition implicated in the promotion of cognitive impairment in the elderly and a common preclinical feature seen in AD and VaD. As detection of lowered cerebral perfusion from cardiac and carotid artery pathology is achieved using these cost-effective, noninvasive, and relatively accurate ultrasound procedures, a significant reduction in the number of new AD and VaD cases would be anticipated after appropriate patient treatment. In this context, a brief summary is presented outlining recent medical and surgical treatments that may improve cerebral blood flow insufficiency. The merit of CAUSE in screening and treating mentally healthy elderly persons who are identified as being at risk of cognitive decline is that it could blunt the soaring socioeconomic impact that will hammer the health care system of many nations by the mounting dementia prevalence rate expected in the next 25 years. A 5- year delay in the onset of AD could reduce the prevalence of AD by 50%. We are making preparations to test the merit of CAUSE in a clinical study of a cognitively healthy elderly population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack C de la Torre
- Center for Alzheimer's Research, Sun Health Research Institute, Sun City, Arizona 85351, USA.
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Simoni M, Pantoni L, Pracucci G, Palmertz B, Guo X, Gustafson D, Skoog I. Prevalence of CT-detected cerebral abnormalities in an elderly Swedish population sample. Acta Neurol Scand 2008; 118:260-7. [PMID: 18336623 DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0404.2008.01010.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To measure the prevalence of computed tomography (CT)-detected cerebral lesions in a population-based sample of elderly persons living in Göteborg, Sweden. METHODS Cerebral CT-scans were performed in the case of 466 women (mean age 74.3 +/- 5.1 years) and 191 70-year-old men. A single rater assessed white matter lesions (WML) using four different scales, lacunar lesions, large infarcts, cortical atrophy, and basal ganglia calcifications. RESULTS White matter lesions frequency assessed by different scales ranged between 54.5% and 68.5%. Lacunar lesions were detected in 46.7% (30.1% had lacunes >5 mm) and cerebral infarcts in 3.0% of participants. Overall, 72.8% of participants evidenced cerebral vascular abnormalities. Severe cortical atrophy was more common in temporal (6.4%) and frontal (6.7%) lobes, than in parietal (1.7%) and occipital (1.1%) lobes. Basal ganglia calcifications were found in 38.7% of participants. WML, lacunar lesions, large infarcts, and degree of cortical atrophy correlated positively with age. More lacunes, basal ganglia calcifications, and occipital lobe atrophy were associated with male gender. CONCLUSIONS Vascular and other brain lesions are very common on CT-scan in an elderly population, but large vascular lesions are rare. This study provides the first reference for the prevalence of CT-detected abnormalities in an elderly Swedish population.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Simoni
- Department of Neurological and Psychiatric Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
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36
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Förster A, Szabo K, Hennerici MG. Mechanisms of Disease: pathophysiological concepts of stroke in hemodynamic risk zones—do hypoperfusion and embolism interact? ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008; 4:216-25. [DOI: 10.1038/ncpneuro0752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2007] [Accepted: 12/07/2007] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Bradač GB, Daniele D, Bergui M, Cerrato P, Ferrio MF, Stura G, Coriasco M. Lacunes and other holes: diagnosis, pathogenesis, therapy. Neuroradiol J 2008; 21:35-52. [PMID: 24256748 DOI: 10.1177/197140090802100105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2007] [Accepted: 10/28/2007] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Lacunar ischemic lesions are related to a pathology involving perforators, due to direct changes in the arteries or to an indirect mechanism, such as cardiac or artery to artery embolism, or to hypoperfusion in cases of cardiac failure, or proximal occlusion of large arteries. Changes involving the large intracranial arteries have progressively been taken into consideration as a cause of the disease. This latter aspect is interesting since possible endovascular treatment can be proposed in selected cases. In patients with lacunar syndrome an extended clinical and neuroradiological approach is indicated to choose the most appropriate therapy. Not all lesions recognizable on CT/MR are the expressions of ischemic lesions, this is another important aspect that should be considered in the differential diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- G B Bradač
- Neuroscience-Neuroradiology Department, University of Turin; Turin, Italy -
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Kumral E, Bayülkem G. Spectrum of single and multiple corona radiata infarcts: clinical/MRI correlations. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis 2007; 12:66-73. [PMID: 17903907 DOI: 10.1053/jscd.2003.11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2002] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
We sought to determine the clinical pictures, topography and pathogenesis of patients with unilateral single or multiple corona radiata infarcts. We defined corona radiata ischemic stroke if the patient had a focal neurological deficit and a relevant non-hemorrhagic infarction confined to the vascular territory of a long medullary artery proved by CT and MRI with contrast. We compared risk factors and clinical feature between subtypes of corona radiata infarcts. The study sample represents 1.2% of the patients (68/5500) with first-ever stroke in our Registry, including ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes. There were 37 patients (54%) with single infarct presenting 17 different complete or partial sensory-motor symptoms with dysarthria; 14 patients (21%) with unilateral multiple infarcts in one hemisphere had often complete sensorimotor deficits with some neuropsychological impairment; among 17 patients (25%) with multiple infarcts in both hemisphere, one half had bilateral motor and sensory symptoms, and neuropsychological deficits, visual field defects were uncommon. Seventeen patients (25%) had dysarthria, which was no localizing value. Hypertension was the most frequent vascular risk factor in 62% of patients, smoking in 28%, diabetes mellitus in 26%, hypercholesterolemia in 9%, and atrial fibrillation in 7%. The main cause of corona radiata infarcts was small-artery disease with long-standing hypertension in 40 patients (59%), large-artery disease in 19%, cardioembolism in 12%. Most of the patients (88%) had leukoaraiosis, and patients with bilateral multiple infarcts, leukoaraiosis was more frequent than in those with unilateral single infarct (P = .016; < .05). Despite clinical similarity to that found in superficial and deep infarcts, incomplete motor and sensory symptoms and MRI allows to delineate simultaneous uni- or multiple infarcts in the corona radiata. After an acute and immediate onset, outcome at 6 months of stroke onset is in general benign except those with bilateral infarcts. The coexistence of small-artery disease with leukoaraiosis suggest similar vascular risk factors and physiopathological mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emre Kumral
- Stroke Unit, Department of Neurology, Ege University, Izmir, 35100, Turkey.
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Derdeyn CP, Carpenter DA, Videen TO, Grubb RL, Powers WJ. Patterns of Infarction in Hemodynamic Failure. Cerebrovasc Dis 2007; 24:11-9. [PMID: 17519539 DOI: 10.1159/000103111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2006] [Accepted: 11/22/2006] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The mechanism of stroke in patients with atherosclerotic occlusive disease and hemodynamic failure may be primarily hemodynamic or a combination of hemodynamic and embolic factors. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical and imaging features of stroke in these patients. METHODS Eleven patients with complete atherosclerotic carotid artery occlusion and increased oxygen extraction fraction measured in the hemisphere distal to the occlusion developed an ischemic stroke during the observation phase of a prospective study of cerebral hemodynamics and stroke risk. The medical and study records related to the endpoint event for these 11 patients were reviewed. Records were reviewed for evidence of associated hypotension and for specific details of the neurological deficit. Infarct location was characterized, based on review of imaging and clinical features, as: (1) middle cerebral artery (MCA) core; (2) possible cortical border zone, or (3) internal border zone. RESULTS One patient had a retinal infarction; the remaining 10 had MCA territory strokes. Six of the 10 infarctions occurred in the MCA core territory. Two of these 6 were fatal hemispheric events. One of the 10 infarctions occurred in the cortical border zone region. Two of the remaining 3 infarctions were localized to the internal border zone. One was indeterminate. CONCLUSIONS The clinical features and radiological patterns of stroke in many patients with hemodynamic impairment failure and carotid occlusion are most consistent with large artery thromboembolic stroke. These data suggest a synergistic effect between embolic and hemodynamic mechanisms for large artery thromboembolic stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin P Derdeyn
- Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
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Henry Feugeas MC, De Marco G, Peretti II, Godon-Hardy S, Fredy D, Claeys ES. Age-related cerebral white matter changes and pulse-wave encephalopathy: observations with three-dimensional MRI. Magn Reson Imaging 2005; 23:929-37. [PMID: 16310108 DOI: 10.1016/j.mri.2005.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2004] [Accepted: 09/11/2005] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Our purpose was to investigate leukoaraïosis (LA) using three-dimensional MR imaging combined with advanced image-processing technology to attempt to group signal abnormalities according to their etiology. Coronal T2-weighted fast fluid-attenuated inversion-recovery (FLAIR) sequences and three-dimensional T1-weighted fast spoiled gradient recalled echo sequences were used to examine cerebral white matter changes in 75 elderly people with memory complaint but no dementia. They were otherwise healthy, community-dwelling subjects. Three subtypes of LA were defined on the basis of their shape, geography and extent: the so-called subependymal/subpial LA, perivascular LA and "bands" along long white matter tracts. Subependymal changes were directly contiguous with ventricular spaces. They showed features of "water hammer" lesions with ventricular systematisation and a more frequent location around the frontal horns than around the bodies (P=.0008). The use of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) contiguity criterion allowed a classification of splenial changes in the subpial group. Conversely, posterior periventricular lesions in the centrum ovale as well as irregular and extensive periventricular lesions were not directly contiguous with CSF spaces. The so-called perivascular changes showed features of small-vessel-associated disease; they surrounded linear CSF-like signals that followed the direction of perforating vessels. Distribution of these perivascular changes appeared heterogeneous (P ranging from .04 to 5.10(-16)). These findings suggest that subependymal/subpial LA and subcortical LA may be separate manifestations of a single underlying pulse-wave encephalopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Cécile Henry Feugeas
- Department of Radiology, Bichat-Claude Bernard University Hospital, AP-HP, 75877 Paris Cedex 18, France.
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Iwasaki Y, Igarashi O, Ichikawa Y, Ikeda K. Strokes in the subinsular territory: clinical, topographical, and etiological patterns. Neurology 2005; 64:2164; author reply 2164. [PMID: 15985608 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.64.12.2164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
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Hiroki M, Uema T, Kajimura N, Ogawa K, Nishikawa M, Kato M, Watanabe T, Nakajima T, Takano H, Imabayashi E, Ohnishi T, Takayama Y, Matsuda H, Uchiyama M, Okawa M, Takahashi K, Fukuyama H. Cerebral white matter blood flow is constant during human non-rapid eye movement sleep: a positron emission tomographic study. J Appl Physiol (1985) 2005; 98:1846-54. [PMID: 15618323 DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00653.2004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to identify brain regions with the least decreased cerebral blood flow (CBF) and their relationship to physiological parameters during human non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep. Using [15O]H2O positron emission tomography, CBF was measured for nine normal young adults during nighttime. As NREM sleep progressed, mean arterial blood pressure and whole brain mean CBF decreased significantly; arterial partial pressure of CO2 and, selectively, relative CBF of the cerebral white matter increased significantly. Absolute CBF remained constant in the cerebral white matter, registering 25.9 ± 3.8 during wakefulness, 25.8 ± 3.3 during light NREM sleep, and 26.9 ± 3.0 (ml·100 g−1·min−1) during deep NREM sleep ( P = 0.592), and in the occipital cortex ( P = 0.611). The regression slope of the absolute CBF significantly differed with respect to arterial partial pressure of CO2 between the cerebral white matter (slope 0.054, R = − 0.04) and frontoparietal association cortex (slope − 0.776, R = − 0.31) ( P = 0.005) or thalamus (slope − 1.933, R = − 0.47) ( P = 0.004) and between the occipital cortex (slope 0.084, R = 0.06) and frontoparietal association cortex ( P = 0.021) or thalamus ( P < 0.001), and, with respect to mean arterial blood pressure, between the cerebral white matter (slope − 0.067, R = − 0.10) and thalamus (slope 0.637, R = 0.31) ( P = 0.044). The cerebral white matter CBF keeps constant during NREM sleep as well as the occipital cortical CBF, and may be specifically regulated by both CO2 vasoreactivity and pressure autoregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masahiko Hiroki
- Human Brain Research Center, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan.
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Kumral E, Ozdemirkiran T, Alper Y. Strokes in the subinsular territory: Clinical, topographical, and etiological patterns. Neurology 2004; 63:2429-32. [PMID: 15623721 DOI: 10.1212/01.wnl.0000147261.22630.f8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The authors studied 11 patients with subinsular stroke (subIS) located in a deep border zone between lenticulostriate arteries and small insular cortical penetrating branches of the middle cerebral artery. The typical clinical features of subIS were motor deficits (11 patients), sensory disturbances (6 patients), transcortical motor aphasia and hypophonia (2 patients), and transient dysphagia at stroke onset (5 patients). Large artery disease and cardioembolic mechanisms may give rise to subIS by hemodynamic mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emre Kumral
- Division of Stroke Unit, Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Ege University, Bornova, Izmir, 35100, Turkey.
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Kalback W, Esh C, Castaño EM, Rahman A, Kokjohn T, Luehrs DC, Sue L, Cisneros R, Gerber F, Richardson C, Bohrmann B, Walker DG, Beach TG, Roher AE. Atherosclerosis, vascular amyloidosis and brain hypoperfusion in the pathogenesis of sporadic Alzheimer's disease. Neurol Res 2004; 26:525-39. [PMID: 15265270 DOI: 10.1179/016164104225017668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
We postulate that severe atherosclerotic occlusion of the circle of Willis and leptomeningeal arteries is an important factor in the pathogenesis of some sporadic Alzheimer's disease (AD) cases. These arterial stenoses are complicated by an overwhelming amyloid accumulation in the walls of leptomeningeal and cortical arteries resulting in a significant decrease in perfusion pressure and consequent ischemia/hypoxia of the brain tissue. We also propose that the distal areas of the white matter (WM) will be the first affected by a lack of oxygen and nutrients. Our hypotheses are supported by the following observations: (1) the number of stenoses is more frequent in AD than in the control population (p = 0.008); (2) the average index of occlusion is greater in AD than in the control group (p < 0.00001); (3) the index of stenosis and the total number of stenoses per case are positively correlated (R = 0.67); (4) the index of stenosis correlates with the neuropathological lesions of AD and with the MMSE psychometric test; (5) the number and degree of atherosclerosis of the anterior, middle and posterior cerebral arteries is more severe in cases of AD than in the control population; (6) atherosclerosis severity is apparently associated with the severity of the vascular amyloidosis; (7) the WM rarefaction correlates with the severity of the atherosclerosis and vascular amyloidosis; (8) the total cell count and microvessel count in the areas of WM rarefaction correlate with the neuropathological lesions of AD and with the MMSE score. Our data strongly suggest that severe hemodynamic disturbances contribute to sporadic AD and support the numerous observations indicating cardiovascular system participation in the pathogenesis of these dementias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Walter Kalback
- Longtine Center for Molecular Biology and Genetics, Sun Health Research Institute, Sun City, AZ, USA
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Abstract
The increased risk for stroke among those who have had a previous stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) and the tremendous burden of disability among stroke sufferers make both primary and secondary preventative strategies imperative. An understanding of the pathophysiology of stroke and TIA can help identify appropriate therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven R Levine
- Stroke Program, Department of Neurology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York 10029, USA.
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Momjian S, Owler BK, Czosnyka Z, Czosnyka M, Pena A, Pickard JD. Pattern of white matter regional cerebral blood flow and autoregulation in normal pressure hydrocephalus. Brain 2004; 127:965-72. [PMID: 15033897 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awh131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 161] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The mean cerebral blood flow (CBF) has generally been demonstrated to be lower in normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) than in normal controls. We investigated the distribution of the regional peri- and paraventricular white matter CBF (WM CBF) in NPH at baseline and during a controlled rise in intracranial pressure (ICP). Twelve patients with idiopathic NPH (mean age 69 years) underwent a CSF infusion study. CBF was measured by H2(15)O PET at baseline and then during the steady-state plateau of raised ICP. The PET images were co-registered and resliced to 3D structural T1-weighted MRIs. Ten healthy normal volunteers served as control subjects for baseline CBF determination only. Profiles of the regional distribution of the baseline WM CBF and of the percentage change in WM CBF as a function of distance from the ventricles were plotted. The global mean baseline CBF in patients (28.4 +/- 5.2 ml/100 ml/min) was lower than in the control subjects (33 +/- 5.4 ml/100 ml/min) (P < 0.005). In patients, the profile of the regional WM CBF at baseline showed an increase with distance from the ventricles (P < 0.0001), with a maximal reduction adjacent to the ventricles and progressive normalization with distance, whereas in controls no relationship was apparent (P = 0.0748). In 10 patients, the rise in ICP during the infusion produced a fall in cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) and a significant decrease of the global mean CBF from 27.6 +/- 3.1 to 24.5 +/- 2.9 ml/100 ml/min (P < 0.0001). The profile of the percentage changes in regional WM CBF in patients showed a U-shaped relationship with distance from the ventricles (P = 0.0007), with a maximal decrease skewed on the side of the lateral ventricles at around a mean distance of 9 mm. The WM CBF is reduced in NPH, with an abnormal gradient from the lateral ventricles towards the subcortical WM. An excessive decrease in CBF is brought about by reductions in CPP and appears to be maximal in the paraventricular watershed region. These results are discussed in the light of previous hypotheses concerning the aetiology of periventricular CBF reduction in NPH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahan Momjian
- Academic Neurosurgery Unit, Addenbrooke's Hospital and Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
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48
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Verbrugge SJC, Klimek M, Klein J. Ein zerebraler Grenzzoneninfarkt nach Allgemeinan�sthesie bei einem Patienten mit erh�hten Antikardiolipinantik�rpern. Anaesthesist 2004; 53:341-6. [PMID: 15088096 DOI: 10.1007/s00101-003-0644-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
During the first generalised epileptic attack, a patient suffered a humerus fracture which necessitated an operation. This patient also had a history of spontaneous lung emboli and an elevated anti-cardiolipin plasma level for which coumarin was prescribed but was stopped preoperatively. After induction of general anaesthesia for a total shoulder arthroplasty, the patient became hypotensive and the bispectral index recorded perioperatively dropped to 0. Postoperatively, the patient developed signs of a unilateral borderzone cerebral infarct in the area of the medial cerebral artery. The possible pathomechanisms involved are discussed. In cases of known cerebral pathology intraoperative hypotension should be avoided by at all costs. Patients with increased anti-cardiolipin antibody levels and who suffer from epileptic attacks have an increased risk of thromboembolic events.
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Affiliation(s)
- S J C Verbrugge
- Afdeling Anesthesiologie, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands.
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49
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De Reuck J, Paemeleire K, Santens P, Strijckmans K, Lemahieu I. Cobalt-55 positron emission tomography in symptomatic atherosclerotic carotid artery disease: borderzone versus territorial infarcts. Clin Neurol Neurosurg 2004; 106:77-81. [PMID: 15003294 DOI: 10.1016/j.clineuro.2003.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2003] [Revised: 09/11/2003] [Accepted: 10/01/2003] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Borderzone as well as territorial infarcts can occur in severe atherosclerotic carotid artery disease. It remains controversial whether the borderzone distribution of infarcts is due to hypoperfusion or due to artery-to-artery embolism. PURPOSE The present study investigates whether cobalt-55 (55Co) positron emission tomography (PET) shows a different pattern of ischaemia according to the topography of the infarct in severe atherosclerotic carotid artery disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS Five patients with a cortical borderzone and seven with a territorial infarct, due to symptomatic carotid artery disease, were investigated with 55Co PET 3-6 months after stroke. Average 55Co counts in the infarct area, the adjacent cortical zone, the deep white matter and, contralateral cerebral cortex and white matter, were compared to the values in the cerebellum used as reference. RESULTS No differences in 55Co ratio were observed in the different regions of interest (ROIs) between patients with cortical borderzone and those with territorial infarcts. The 55Co uptake was similar or lower than the reference value for all ROIs in all individual patients. CONCLUSION In patients with borderzone as well as with territorial infarcts no evidence was found for subclinical ischaemic injury in or around the infarcts. These data do support the conclusion that cortical borderzone infarcts may not be due to ongoing chronic haemodynamic impairment, but by no means is this conclusive evidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacques De Reuck
- Department of Neurology, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
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Gass A, Ay H, Szabo K, Koroshetz WJ. Diffusion-weighted MRI for the "small stuff": the details of acute cerebral ischaemia. Lancet Neurol 2004; 3:39-45. [PMID: 14693110 DOI: 10.1016/s1474-4422(03)00621-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Diffusion-weighted MRI (DWI) has already had a substantial effect on the diagnosis of patients with ischaemic stroke. It provides in vivo pathological information and allows the differentiation of acute stroke from chronic stroke and from non-specific white-matter lesions. The high contrast of the acute DWI lesion against the dark background facilitates the detection of lesions even when they are 1 mm or less in diameter. Small lesions, which are undetectable by other means, include small lacunar infarcts, punctate cortical infarcts, and DWI bright dots in patients with transient ischaemic attacks (TIA). The latter constitute remnants or "footprints" of recent ischaemia and confirm the clinical TIA syndrome as ischaemic. Because of these attributes, DWI not only confirms the clinical diagnosis, but also facilitates the recognition of certain patterns of ischaemia, thereby providing clues to the underlying aetiology. DWI is becoming an important technique for optimum management of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Achim Gass
- NMR Research Neurology, Department of Neurology, Universitaetsklinikum Mannheim, Germany.
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