Incidence of Acute Kidney Injury After Computed Tomography Angiography±Computed Tomography Perfusion Followed by Thrombectomy in Patients With Stroke Using a Postprocedural Hydration Protocol

Chronic Kidney Disease Increases Mortality and Reduces the Chance of a Favorable Outcome in Stroke Patients Treated with Mechanical Thrombectomy-Single-Center Study

Background/Objectives: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is identified as a risk factor for the occurrence of ischemic stroke. There is substantial evidence that CKD is linked to a worse prognosis and higher mortality rates in stroke patients. This study aimed to evaluate the characteristics and factors affecting favorable outcomes and mortality in patients treated using mechanical thrombectomy (MT) for ischemic stroke, with particular emphasis on patients suffering from CKD. Methods: The retrospective study included an analysis of data from 723 patients (139; 19.4% had CKD) with ischemic stroke treated with MT between March 2019 and July 2022. Results: Patients with CKD were significantly older (median age 76.5 vs. 65.65, p < 0.001) and more often female (59.7% vs. 42.6%, p < 0.001). CKD decreased the likelihood of achieving a favorable outcome (0-2 points in modified Rankin scale; OR: 0.56, CI95%: 0.38-0.81) and increased mortality (OR: 2.59, CI95%: 1.74-3.84) on the 90th day after stroke. In addition, CKD was associated with intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) in patients who underwent posterior circulation MT (13.85% vs. 50%, p = 0.022). In patients with CKD, inter alia, higher levels of C-reactive protein (OR: 0.94, CI95%: 0.92-0.99) reduced the chance of a favorable outcome. In addition, the occurrence of ICH in patients with CKD increased mortality on the 90th day after stroke (OR: 4.18, CI95%: 1.56-11.21), which was almost twice as high as in patients without CKD (OR: 2.29, CI95%: 1.54-3.40). Conclusions: Patients suffering from CKD had a lower probability of achieving a favorable outcome and had increased mortality following MT for ischemic stroke. It is crucial to understand the variations between patients with unimpaired and impaired renal function, as this could aid in predicting the outcomes of this method.

Oncologic Staging Computed Tomography with IV Contrast Has Similar Efficacy to Dedicated Computed Tomography Angiography for Preoperative DIEP Flap Planning

Background

Due to variations in perforator vasculature, deep inferior epigastric artery perforator (DIEP) flap preoperative imaging can minimize operative time required to locate the most suitable perforators. Dedicated computed tomography angiography (CTA) has been the gold standard; however, many patients have already undergone a staging computed tomography (CT) per oncologic workup. The benefits from CTA may also be realized with a staging CT or CT with IV contrast.

Methods

Ten patients who underwent DIEP flap reconstruction with staging CT and CTA within 3 years of one another were included in this study. Reviewers evaluated axial views of both imaging modalities separately to identify each visible perforator in reference to the pubic symphysis from the xiphoid to the pubic symphysis. An intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to determine agreement in location of perforators between the two imaging studies. Statistical analysis was performed using an ICC and Wilcoxon signed rank-tests.

Results

The identified perforators within the patient cohort had an excellent correlation between their location on CT and CTA based upon ICC. The mean number of perforators identified in the CT group was 15.3 (SD 4.9) and in the CTA group was 18.8 (SD 6.4), which was not statistically different (P = 0.247).

Conclusions

CT has similar efficacy in identifying number of perforators and perforator location to dedicated CTA for preoperative planning in DIEP flaps. This has the potential for decreased patient contrast and ionizing radiation exposure as well as improved patient and healthcare resource utilization.

Intraprocedural continuous saline infusion lines significantly reduce the incidence of acute kidney injury during endovascular procedures for stroke and myocardial infarction: evidence from a systematic review and meta-regression

BACKGROUND

Contrast media used in mechanical therapies for stroke and myocardial infarction represent a significant cause of acute kidney injury (AKI) in acute medical scenarios. Although the continuous saline infusion line (CSIL) is a standard procedure to prevent thrombus formation within the catheter during neurovascular interventions of mechanical thrombectomy (MT), it is not utilized in percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI).

METHODS

A systematic review of the incidence of AKI after MT for stroke treatment was performed. These data were compared with those reported in the literature regarding the incidence of AKI after PCI for acute myocardial infarction. A random-effect model meta-regression was performed to explore the effects of CSIL on AKI incidence, using clinical details as covariates.

RESULTS

A total of 18 and 33 studies on MT and PCI were included, respectively, with 69,464 patients (30,138 [43.4%] for MT and 39,326 [56.6%] for PCI). The mean age was 63.6 years±5.8 with male 66.6%±12.8. Chronic kidney disease ranged 2.0-50.3%. Diabetes prevalence spanned 11.1% to 53.0%. Smoking status had a prevalence of 7.5-72.0%. Incidence of AKI proved highly variable (I2=98%, Cochrane's Q 2985), and appeared significantly lower in the MT subgroup than in the PCI subgroups (respectively 8.3% [95% confidence interval: 4.7-11.9%] vs. 14.7 [12.6-16.8%], P<0.05). Meta-regression showed that CSIL was significantly associated with a decreased incidence of AKI (OR=0.93 [1.001-1.16]; P=0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

Implementation of CSIL during endovascular procedures in acute settings was associated with a significant decrease in the risk of AKI, and its safety should be routinely considered in such interventions.

Risk factors of acute kidney injury during hospitalization in acute ischaemic stroke patients undergoing mechanical thrombectomy

Introduction

Acute kidney injury (AKI) seems to worsen the prognosis of acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) patients treated with mechanical thrombectomy (MT). At the same time, the procedure of MT increases AKI risk by iodinated contrast use. Identification of factors predisposing to AKI after MT is important for recognizing vulnerable patients and successful prevention.

Aim

To identify factors associated with the occurrence of AKI during hospitalization in MT-treated AIS patients.

Material and methods

The study included all AIS patients treated with MT in the University Hospital in Krakow from 2019 to 2021. The diagnosis of AKI during hospitalisation was based on serum creatinine concentration levels, according to the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes guidelines. We compared patients with and without AKI in terms of age, sex, comorbidities, stroke course and laboratory test results at admission. We identified factors associated with the occurrence of AKI using univariate logistic regression analysis, with significant variables subsequently added to the multivariate analyses.

Results

Among 593 MT-treated AIS patients the incidence of AKI during hospitalisation was 12.6%. AKI development was associated with diabetes, chronic kidney disease, total volume of iodinated contrast obtained during hospitalisation, posterior circulation stroke, lack of intravenous thrombolysis, and laboratory test results at admission: haemoglobin, glucose, urea, potassium, and creatinine. Total contrast volume and urea level were the most important independent risk factors associated with occurrence of AKI.

Conclusions

AKI is common in MT-treated AIS patients. There is a need to establish a protocol for decreasing the risk of AKI in AIS patients undergoing MT and, in case it occurs, a procedure for its treatment.

Image quality and diagnostic accuracy of different dosages of iodixanol in computed tomography angiography and perfusion of overweight patients with coronary artery stenosis: A feasibility study

OBJECTIVES

Iodixanol contrast media with different doses using computed tomography angiography (CTA) and perfusion (CTP) to diagnose coronary artery disease (CAD) in overweight patients lacks assessment. Our study compared iodixanol 320 mg I/ml and 270 mg I/ml on image quality and accuracy of CTA combined CTP (CTA-CTP) to diagnose CAD.

METHODS

Overweight patients with suspected of CAD were randomized into iodixanol 270 group (received iodixanol 270 mg I/ml) and iodixanol 320 group (received iodixanol 320 mg I/ml). Based on these characteristics data, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and corresponding area under the curve (AUC) were plotted to assess the sensitivity and specificity of the two administrations.

RESULTS

The subjective definition score, signal to noise ratio, and CT value of aorta in iodixanol 320 group were higher than iodixanol 270 group. In iodixanol 270 group: the image exhibited a normal state of both vessels and myocardial perfusion; and the AUC, specificity, and sensitivity were 0.376, 66.67, and 80.46, respectively. In iodixanol 320 group: the image exhibited a diameter stenosis in right coronary artery and myocardial infarction of inferior wall and proximal inferior wall septum, as well as myocardial perfusion defects; and the AUC, specificity, and sensitivity in iodixanol 320 group were 0.824, 75.00, and 89.87, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Accuracy and image quality of iodixanol 320 mg I/ml in the diagnosis of CAD with CTA-CTP was higher than using iodixanol 270 mg I/ml.

Contrast-associated acute kidney injury in acute ischemic stroke patients following multi-dose iodinated contrast

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

lthough intravenous contrast in neuroimaging has become increasingly important in selecting patients for stroke treatment, clinical concerns remain regarding contrast-associated acute kidney injury (CA-AKI). Given the increasing utilization of CT angiography and/or perfusion coupled with cerebral angiography, the purpose of this study was to assess the association of CA-AKI and multi-dose iodinated contrast in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

etrospective review of AIS patients at a comprehensive stroke center was performed from January 2018 to December 2019. Data collection included patient demographics, stroke risk factors, stroke severity, discharge disposition, modified Rankin Scale, contrast type/volume, and creatinine levels (baseline, 48-72 h). CA-AKI was defined as creatinine increase ≥ 25 % from baseline. Bivariate analyses and multivariable logistic regression models were implemented to compare AIS patients with multi-dose and single-dose contrast.

RESULTS

Of 440 AIS patients, 215 (48.9 %) were exposed to a single-dose contrast, and 225 (51.1 %) received multi-dose. In single-dose patients, CA-AKI at 48/72 h was 9.7 %/10.2 % compared to 8.0 %/8.9 % in multi-dose patients. Multi-dose patients were significantly more likely to receive a higher volume of contrast (mean 142.1 mL versus 80.8 mL; p < 0.001), but there was no significant difference in their creatinine levels or CA-AKI. NIHSS score (OR=1.08, 95 % CI=[1.04,1.13]), and patient transfer from another hospital (OR=3.84, 95 % CI=[1.94,7.62]) were significantly associated with multi-dose contrast.

CONCLUSIONS

No significant association between multi-dose iodinated contrast and CA-AKI was seen in AIS patients. Concerns of CA-AKI should not deter physicians from pursuing timely and appropriate contrast-enhanced neuroimaging that may optimize treatment outcomes in AIS patients.

Sensitive and specific detection of breast cancer lymph node metastasis through dual-modality magnetic particle imaging and fluorescence molecular imaging: a preclinical evaluation

PURPOSE

A sensitive and specific imaging method to detect metastatic cancer cells in lymph nodes to detect the early-stage breast cancer is still a challenge. The purpose of this study was to investigate a novel breast cancer-targeting and tumour microenvironment ATP-responsive superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIOs) imaging probe (abbreviated as SPIOs@A-T) that was developed to detect lymph node metastasis through fluorescence molecular imaging (FMI) and magnetic particle imaging (MPI).

METHODS

The conjugation of the targeted peptide CREKA and SPIOs was via linker sulfo-SMCC, while the dsDNA-Cy5.5 was modified on SPIOs through the conjugation between maleimide group in sulfo-SMCC and sulfydryl group in dsDNA-Cy5.5. SPIOs@A-T was characterised for its imaging properties, targeting ability and toxicity in vitro. Mice with metastatic lymph node (MLN) of breast cancer were established to evaluate the FMI and MPI imaging strategy in vivo. Healthy mice with normal lymph node (NLN) were used as control group. Histological examination and biosafety evaluation were performed for further assessment.

RESULTS

After injection with SPIOs@A-T, the obvious high fluorescent intensity and MPI signal were observed in MLN group than those in NLN group. FMI can specifically light up MLN using an ATP-responsive fluorescence design. On the other hand, MPI could complement the limitation of imaging depth from FMI and could detect MLN more sensitively. Besides, the biosafety evaluation results showed SPIOs@A-T had no detectable biological toxicity.

CONCLUSION

SPIOs@A-T imaging probe in combination with FMI and MPI can provide a promising novel method for the precise detection of MLN in vivo.

A systematic review of the incidence of hypersensitivity reactions and post-contrast acute kidney injury after ioversol: part 2-intra-arterial administration

Objectives

To evaluate the incidence of adverse drug reactions (ADRs), including hypersensitivity reactions (HSRs) and post-contrast acute kidney injury (PC-AKI), after intra-arterial (IA) administration of ioversol.

Methods and materials

A systematic literature search was performed (1980–2021) and studies documenting IA use of ioversol, and reporting safety outcomes were selected. Key information on study design, patients’ characteristics, indication, dose, and type of safety outcome were extracted.

Results

Twenty-eight studies (including two pediatric studies) with 8373 patients exposed to IA ioversol were selected. Studies were highly heterogenous in terms of design, PC-AKI definition, and studied population. PC-AKI incidence after coronary angiography was 7.5–21.9% in a general population, 4.0-26.4% in diabetic patients, and 5.5–28.9% in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). PC-AKI requiring dialysis was rare and reported mainly in patients with severe CKD. No significant differences in PC-AKI rates were shown in studies comparing different iodinated contrast media (ICM). Based on seven studies of ioversol clinical development, the overall ADR incidence was 1.6%, comparable to that reported with other non-ionic ICM. Pediatric data were scarce with only one study reporting on PC-AKI incidence (12%), and one reporting on ADR incidence (0.09%), both after coronary angiography.

Conclusions

After ioversol IA administration, PC-AKI incidence was highly variable between studies, likely reflecting the heterogeneity of the included study populations, and appeared comparable to that reported with other ICM. The rate of other ADRs appears to be low. Well-designed studies are needed for a better comparison with other ICM.

Key Points

• PC-AKI incidence after IA administration of ioversol appears to be comparable to that of other ICM, despite the high variability between studies.

• The need for dialysis after IA administration of ioversol is rare.

• No obvious difference was found regarding the safety profile of ioversol between IA and IV administration.

Clinical protocol of the ischemic stroke patients treatment

Today in Ukraine there is no single standardized protocol for the treatment of patients in the acute period of ischemic stroke using modern methods of diagnosis and treatment, which include thrombolytic therapy and endovascular treatment. This protocol was created and implemented in Scientific-practical Center of endovascular neuroradiology, NAMS of Ukraine and is based on the latest recommendations of AHA/ASA and ESO, as well as registers of patients with ischemic stroke. The main purpose of this publication is the creation and implementation of «instructions» for the diagnosis and selection of objective tactics for treating patients in the acute period of ischemic stroke.

Post-Contrast Acute Kidney Injury after Acute Stroke-Insights from a German Tertiary Care Center

Background: Our aim was to investigate the relationship between additional iodinated contrast medium (CM) application for acute stroke imaging and Post-Contrast Acute Kidney Injury (PC-AKI). Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of consecutive patients with acute stroke who received a CT angiogram (CTA) with or without additional CT perfusion (CTP) at admission between 2017 and 2020. The primary endpoint was the incidence of PC-AKI. Potential causes of renal function impairment were recorded and logistic regression was performed to determine predictors of PC-AKI. Results: Of 3134 cases screened, n = 989 met the predefined inclusion criteria. PC-AKI occurred in 22 (5.4%) patients who received CTA only and 18 (3.1%) patients who received CTA and additional CTP (unadjusted OR, CI; 0.59, 0.29–1.05). In 31/40 (77.5%) patients who suffered PC-AKI, a non-CM-related cause of renal function impairment was identified. Stroke etiology (hemorrhagic vs. ischemic) and indicators of prior kidney disease were independent predictors of PC-AKI. Conclusions: Additional administration of CM for perfusion imaging in acute stroke did not show a relevant influence on the occurrence of PC-AKI. Patients with intracranial hemorrhage and/or prior kidney disease are at particular risk of developing AKI.

The Impact of Post-contrast Acute Kidney Injury on In-hospital Mortality After Endovascular Thrombectomy in Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke

Background and Purpose: Clinical outcome and mortality after endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) in patients with ischemic stroke are commonly assessed after 3 months. In patients with acute kidney injury (AKI), unfavorable results for 3-month mortality have been reported. However, data on the in-hospital mortality after EVT in this population are sparse. In the present study, we assessed whether AKI impacts in-hospital and 3-month mortality in patients undergoing EVT.

Materials and Methods: From a prospectively recruiting database, consecutive acute ischemic stroke patients receiving EVT between 2010 and 2018 due to acute large vessel occlusion were included. Post-contrast AKI (PC-AKI) was defined as an increase of baseline creatinine of ≥0.5 mg/dL or >25% within 48 h after the first measurement at admission. Adjusting for potential confounders, associations between PC-AKI and mortality after stroke were tested in univariate and multivariate logistic regression models.

Results: One thousand one hundred sixty-nine patients were included; 166 of them (14.2%) died during the acute hospital stay. Criteria for PC-AKI were met by 29 patients (2.5%). Presence of PC-AKI was associated with a significantly higher risk of in-hospital mortality in multivariate analysis [odds ratio (OR) = 2.87, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.16–7.13, p = 0.023]. Furthermore, factors associated with in-hospital mortality encompassed higher age (OR = 1.03, 95% CI = 1.01–1.04, p = 0.002), stroke severity (OR = 1.05, 95% CI = 1.03–1.08, p < 0.001), symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (OR = 3.20, 95% CI = 1.69–6.04, p < 0.001), posterior circulation stroke (OR = 2.85, 95% CI = 1.72–4.71, p < 0.001), and failed recanalization (OR = 2.00, 95% CI = 1.35–3.00, p = 0.001).

Conclusion: PC-AKI is rare after EVT but represents an important risk factor for in-hospital mortality and for mortality within 3 months after hospital discharge. Preventing PC-AKI after EVT may represent an important and potentially lifesaving effort in future daily clinical practice.

Quantitative evaluation of chronically obstructed kidneys from noncontrast computed tomography based on deep learning

OBJECTIVE

To quantitatively report renal parenchymal volume (RPV), renal sinus volume (RSV), and renal parenchymal density (RPD) for chronically obstructed kidneys from noncontrast computed tomography (NCCT).

METHODS

This retrospective study was approved by the institutional review board of our hospital with a waiver of informed consent. We retrospectively collected 304 consecutive NCCT scans of urinary obstruction and constructed two datasets: one with 167 patient scans for parenchyma and sinus segmentation (segmentation dataset) and the other containing 137 scans from different patients diagnosed with chronic urinary obstruction (CUO dataset) and paired with split glomerular filtration rate (sGFR). A cascaded three-dimensional (3D) U-Net model was developed and validated for parenchyma and sinus segmentation. The RPV, RSV, and RPD of the CUO dataset were calculated by the model with manual editing. A multivariate analysis was performed to show the association between all parameters and the sGFR.

RESULTS

In the test dataset, the Dice values for parenchyma and sinus segmentation were 0.95 ± 0.04 and 0.90 ± 0.05, respectively. Compared with those of nonobstructed kidneys, the RSV and RPD of obstructed kidneys increased, but RPV and sGFR decreased (P < .001). For chronically obstructed kidneys, age (r = -0.292, P < .001), RPV (r = 0.849, P < .001), RSV (r = -0.331, P < .001), and RPD (r = -0.296, P < .001) were significantly correlated with sGFR. The fitted regression model was sGFR = 10.873-0.111 Age + 0.211 RPV - 0.022 RSV (r² = 0.712).

CONCLUSIONS

NCCT combined with deep learning has the potential to be a single radiological procedure for morphological and functional evaluation of chronically obstructed kidneys.

Incidence of Acute Kidney Injury After Computed Tomography Angiography±Computed Tomography Perfusion Followed by Thrombectomy in Patients With Stroke Using a Postprocedural Hydration Protocol

Background The risk of contrast-induced acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients with stroke receiving both computed tomography (CT) angiography and mechanical thrombectomy has been investigated only in small case series. No studies have investigated whether additional CT perfusion or chronic kidney disease (CKD) are associated with higher rates of AKI. Methods and Results Retrospective analysis of the AKI incidence in 1089 consecutive patients receiving CT angiography and mechanical thrombectomy from 2015 to 2017 and in subgroups with CKD (n=99) and CT perfusion (n=104) was performed. Patients received a standardized hydration protocol. Data on kidney function after mechanical thrombectomy were available in 1017 patients. A total of 59 (5.8%) patients developed AKI, and only 4 (6.8%) patients needed hemodialysis, all with known CKD. Patients with AKI significantly more often had known CKD (20.3% versus 8.4%, P=0.002), diabetes mellitus (33.9% versus 20.9%, P=0.018), and tandem occlusion (32.2% versus 16.2%, P=0.003) and a significantly higher in-hospital mortality (20.3% versus 7.0%, P<0.001) compared with patients without AKI. However, there were no significant independent predictors for AKI in multivariable logistic regression analysis. Sex (odds ratio [OR], 2.03; 95% CI, 1.17-3.52 [P=0.012]), higher National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (OR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.05-1.14 [P<0.001]), AKI (OR, 3.52; 95% CI, 1.63-7.64 [P=0.001]), diuretic use (OR, 1.80; 95% CI, 1.02-3.19), futile or incomplete recanalization (OR, 0.19; 95% CI, 0.09-0.40 [P<0.001]), and total volume of contrast agent volume (OR, 1.007; 95% CI, 1.002-1.011 [P=0.004]) were independently associated with in-hospital death. Two thirds of the patients with AKI died of severe brain damage and not AKI itself. Conclusions Post-contrast AKI rarely occurs in patients with stroke receiving a contrast agent for CT angiography/CT perfusion and subsequent mechanical thrombectomy. Patients with known CKD had higher rates of AKI and only these patients needed hemodialysis, but CKD was not independently associated with AKI or in-hospital mortality.