White Matter Disease and Outcomes of Mechanical Thrombectomy for Acute Ischemic Stroke

Stroke with White Matter Lesions: Potential Pathophysiology and Therapeutic Targets

Stroke is one of the most common causes of morbidity and mortality among adults globally. Significant advancements have been made in elucidating its pathophysiology, with stroke categorized into pathological subtypes, such as ischemic stroke (IS) and hemorrhagic stroke. White matter lesions (WMLs) identified on magnetic resonance imaging rank as a hallmark of cerebral small vessel disease and are associated with vascular risk factors. They are linked to adverse outcomes like dementia, depression, and an increased risk of both first-ever and recurrent strokes, independent of other risk factors. Despite the evidence indicating the close link between WMLs and stroke, their underlying pathophysiological relationship remains unclear. This study aims to provide an overview of the current knowledge and recent advances in epidemiology, risk factors, and pathophysiological mechanisms of WMLs and stroke, focusing on their interconnection and emerging therapeutic targets.

Serum lipid profiling reveals characteristic lipid signatures associated with stroke in patients with leukoaraiosis

Many lipid biomarkers of stroke have been identified, but the lipid metabolism in elderly patients with leukoaraiosis remains poorly understood. This study aims to explore lipid metabolic processes in stroke among leukoaraiosis patients, which could provide valuable insights for guiding future antithrombotic therapy. In a cohort of 215 individuals undergoing MRI, 13 stroke patients were matched with controls, and 48 stroke patients with leukoaraiosis were matched with 40 leukoaraiosis patients. Serum lipidomics was profiled using UPLC-TOF, and OPLS-DA was applied for metabolite identification. Partial Least Squares Path Model (PLS-PM) assessed pathway weights of novel metabolites in stroke risk, while linear regression explored correlations with clinical outcomes. Lipid profiling identified 168 distinct compounds. From these, 25 lipid molecules were associated with glycerolipid, glycerophospholipid, and sphingolipid metabolism. PLS-PM identified 12 key metabolites, including DG 36:4 (OR = 6.40) as a significant risk factor. Metabolites such as PE 38:5 and FA 16:1;O showed significant correlations with stroke in leukoaraiosis, particularly when the Fazekas score was ≥ 4. Twelve metabolites were identified as key factors in stroke incidence among leukoaraiosis patients. Lipid disturbances in glycerolipids and glycerophospholipids provide valuable insights for further studies on the progression from leukoaraiosis to stroke.

The impact of white matter hyperintensities on short-term outcomes of reperfusion therapy in patients with acute ischemic stroke

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

This study aimed to explore the impact of white matter hyperintensities (WMH) on the short-term outcomes of reperfusion therapy in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients.

METHODS

We prospectively collected data on AIS patients undergoing reperfusion therapies at Chengdu Second People's Hospital from January 2020 and January 2024. WMH severity was graded as 0-3 (none to moderate) or 4-6 (severe) by the Fazekas scale. We analyzed National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores, good functional outcomes (modified Rankin Scale, mRS 0-2) at 7 days and discharge, and safety outcomes like in-hospital mortality and intracranial hemorrhage.

RESULTS

During the study period, 669 patients were included, with 345 having none to moderate WMH and 324 with severe WMH. Patients with severe WMH exhibited significantly higher NIHSS and mRS at 7 days and discharge, with a decrease in good outcomes (mRS 0-2: 40.43% vs. 75.65%), and an increase in intracranial hemorrhage (16.4% vs. 5.8%) and in-hospital mortality (11.7% vs. 2.0%) compared with none to moderate WMH patients. After matching the baseline data, none to moderate WMH was associated with higher likelihood of good outcomes at discharge [adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 2.142; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.380-3.304; P < 0.001] and a lower rate of any intracranial hemorrhage (aOR, 0.348; 95% CI 0.180-0.673; P < 0.001), with no significant difference in in-hospital mortality between the groups.

CONCLUSION

Severe WMH could reduce the benefits of reperfusion therapy in AIS, with increased risk of hemorrhagic complications, warranting further research into treatment strategies for these patients.

Leukoaraiosis in patients with tirofiban before endovascular thrombectomy: A post hoc analysis of a multicentre randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of intravenous tirofiban before endovascular thrombectomy in subgroups of acute ischemic stroke patients with different degrees of leukoaraiosis (LA).

METHODS

Patients of the RESCUE BT trial whose LA grade could be assessed were included. Eligible patients were dichotomized into two strata according to the van Swieten scale (VSS) score, absent-to-moderate LA (VSS score <3) and severe LA (VSS score ≥3). Furthermore, patients were divided into tirofiban and placebo groups in each stratum. The primary outcome was the 90-day modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score. Safety outcome was radiological intracranial hemorrhage within 48 h.

RESULTS

861 patients were included, 439 patients with absent-to-moderate LA and 422 patients with severe LA. There were no significant differences in 90-day mRS score between the tirofiban and placebo groups in either stratum (absent-to-moderate LA: adjusted OR 0.92 (95%CI, 0.66-1.28), P = 0.62; severe LA: adjusted OR 0.99 (95% CI, 0.69-1.42), P = 0.96). In the severe LA stratum, the occurrence of radiologic intracranial hemorrhage was greater in the tirofiban group compared to the placebo group. (35.7% vs 26.4%; adjusted OR, 1.72 (95% CI, 1.12-2.66); P = 0.014). However, no difference was observed in the absent-to-moderate LA stratum (33.2% vs 29.3%; adjusted OR, 1.15 (95% CI, 0.76-1.75); P = 0.51).

CONCLUSION

There was no significant difference in disability severity at 90 days when treating AIS patients using intravenous tirofiban before endovascular therapy, in either absent-to-moderate or severe LA strata. It should be noted that intravenous tirofiban before endovascular therapy increases the incidence of radiologic intracranial hemorrhage in patients with severe LA.

Impact of leukoaraiosis on the infarct growth rate and clinical outcome in acute large vessel occlusion stroke after endovascular thrombectomy

INTRODUCTION

As a marker of chronic cerebral small vessel disease, leukoaraiosis (LA) was reported to impact the recruitment of collaterals in acute ischemic stroke (AIS). We intended to explore the impact of LA on the infarct growth rate (IGR) and clinical outcome by impaired collateral development in AIS patients with large vessel occlusion (LVO) who underwent endovascular thrombectomy (EVT).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Two hundred thirty-six AIS patients who underwent EVT were retrospectively reviewed. The severity of LA was graded using the Fazekas scale with non-contrast CT. IGR was calculated by the acute core volume on CT perfusion divided by the time from stroke onset to imaging. The collateral status after LVO was assessed using the ASITN/SIR collateral scale. The clinical outcomes after EVT were evaluated using a modified Rankin Scale (mRS). The Alberta stroke program early CT score (ASPECTS), the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score at admission, and the modified treatment in cerebral infarction (mTICI) score after EVT were also included. Correlations between those factors were analyzed.

RESULTS

Patients with severe LA had significantly larger core volume on CTP (p = 0.022) and lower collateral grade (p < 0.001). Faster IGR was significantly associated with higher LA severity (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.53; 95% CI: 1.02-2.33; p = 0.046), higher NIHSS (aOR: 1.04; 95% CI: 1.00-1.09; p = 0.032) and impaired collaterals (aOR: 2.26; 95% CI: 1.27-4.03; p = 0.005). In mediation analysis, collaterals explained 33% of the effect of LA on fast IGR. There was correlation between the severity of LA and mRS (p = 0.007).

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

The increasing severity of LA is associated with impaired collateral status and fast infarct growth. These findings suggest that LA may become a predictive imaging biomarker for the likelihood of progression of tissue injury and clinical outcome after EVT in acute large vessel occlusion stroke.

A Study of Factors Affecting Functional Outcomes in Patients With Successful Recanalization by Mechanical Thrombectomy

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Reperfusion therapy is typically performed in cases with acute cerebral infarction. Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) achieves superior recanalization and favorable outcomes. However, some patients have poor functional prognosis despite successful recanalization. We investigated factors affecting functional prognosis after MT with good reperfusion.

METHODS

Among the 205 consecutive cases with ischemic stroke treated with MT at our center from January 1, 2019 to March 31, 2021, 168 with successful recanalization were included. Factors affecting early neurological improvement (ENI) and modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores were reviewed retrospectively.

RESULTS

There were 93 (55%) cases with ENI and 75 (45%) without ENI. The times from onset to recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator administration and recanalization in ENI cases were shorter than those in non-ENI cases. However, non-ENI cases had significantly higher Fazekas grades for white matter lesions. In multivariate analysis, the Fazekas grade was related to ENI (odds ratio [OR]=0.572, 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.345-0.948). The mRS score at discharge was 0-2 in 64 cases (good outcome) and 3-6 in 104 cases (poor outcome). Patients with a poor outcome had a significantly higher age, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, and Fazekas grade. Multivariate analysis revealed that the NIHSS score (OR=1.073, 95% CI=1.020-1.129) and Fazekas grade (OR=2.162, 95% CI=1.458-3.205) at hospitalization affected the mRS score at discharge.

CONCLUSION

There is a correlation of greater severity of white matter lesions with poorer ENI and clinical outcomes at discharge post-MT.

Mediation of Age and Thrombectomy Outcome by Neuroimaging Markers of Frailty in Patients With Stroke

Importance

Age is a leading predictor of poor outcomes after brain injuries like stroke. The extent to which age is associated with preexisting burdens of brain changes, visible on neuroimaging but rarely considered in acute decision-making or trials, is unknown.

Objectives

To explore the mediation of age on functional outcome by neuroimaging markers of frailty (hereinafter neuroimaging frailty) in patients with acute ischemic stroke receiving endovascular thrombectomy (EVT).

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cohort study was a post hoc analysis of the Safety and Efficacy of Nerinetide (NA-1) in Subjects Undergoing Endovascular Thrombectomy for Stroke (ESCAPE-NA1) randomized clinical trial, which investigated intravenous (IV) nerinetide in patients who underwent EVT within a 12-hour treatment window. Patients from 48 acute care hospitals in 8 countries (Canada, US, Germany, Korea, Australia, Ireland, UK, and Sweden) were enrolled between March 1, 2017, and August 12, 2019. Markers of brain frailty (brain atrophy [subcortical or cortical], white matter disease [periventricular or deep], and the number of lacunes and chronic infarctions) were retrospectively assessed while reviewers were blinded to other imaging (eg, computed tomography angiography, computed tomography perfusion) or outcome variables. All analyses were done between December 1, 2022, and January 31, 2023.

Exposures

All patients received EVT and were randomized to IV nerinetide (2.6 mg/kg of body weight) and alteplase (if indicated) treatment vs best medical management.

Main Outcome and Measures

The primary outcome was the proportion of the total effect of age on 90-day outcome, mediated by neuroimaging frailty. A combined mediation was also examined by clinical features associated with frailty and neuroimaging markers (total frailty). Structural equation modeling was used to create latent variables as potential mediators, adjusting for baseline, early ischemic changes; stroke severity; onset-to-puncture time; nerinetide treatment; and alteplase treatment.

Results

Among a total of 1105 patients enrolled in the study, 1102 (median age, 71 years [IQR, 61-80 years]; 554 [50.3%] male) had interpretable imaging at baseline. Of these participants, 549 (49.8%) were treated with IV nerinetide. The indirect effect of age on 90-day outcome, mediated by neuroimaging frailty, was associated with 85.1% of the total effect (β coefficient, 0.04 per year [95% CI, 0.02-0.06 per year]; P < .001). When including both frailty constructs, the indirect pathway was associated with essentially 100% of the total effect (β coefficient, 0.07 per year [95% CI, 0.03-0.10 per year]; P = .001).

Conclusions and Relevance

In this cohort study, a secondary analysis of the ESCAPE-NA1 trial, most of the association between age and 90-day outcome was mediated by neuroimaging frailty, underscoring the importance of features like brain atrophy and small vessel disease, as opposed to chronological age alone, in predicting poststroke outcomes. Future trials could include such frailty features to stratify randomization or improve adjustment in outcome analyses.

Futile reperfusion of endovascular treatment for acute anterior circulation large vessel occlusion in the ANGEL-ACT registry

BACKGROUND

Some patients with large vessel occlusion (LVO) still cannot achieve functional independence despite successful reperfusion after endovascular treatment (EVT), named futile reperfusion. We aimed to explore the incidence and predictors of futile reperfusion of EVT for anterior circulation LVO in the Chinese population based on a nationwide prospective multicenter registry.

METHODS

We selected patients from the ANGEL-ACT (Endovascular Treatment Key Technique and Emergency Workflow Improvement of Acute Ischemic Stroke) registry. Successful reperfusion was defined as modified Treatment In Cerebral Ischemia (mTICI) 2b-3 after EVT, and functional independence was defined as 90-day modified Rankin Scale (mRS) 0-2. A multivariable regression model was performed to identify the independent predictors of futile reperfusion in anterior circulation LVO patients.

RESULTS

A total of 1158 anterior circulation LVO patients were included in our study. 600 of the 1158 patients (51.8%) suffered futile reperfusion. Age ≥69 (adjusted OR (aOR) 1.69, 95% CI 1.21 to 2.35, P=0.002), baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) ≥14 (aOR 2.36, 95% CI 1.71 to 3.27, P<0.001), baseline serum glucose ≥6.5 mmol/L (aOR 1.73, 95% CI 1.27 to 2.36, P=0.001), drip and ship (aOR 1.56, 95% CI 1.11 to 2.18, P=0.011), and general anesthesia (aOR 2.28, 95% CI 1.66 to 3.14, P<0.001) were associated with a high risk of futile reperfusion in the anterior LVO patients after EVT, whereas baseline Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) ≥8 (aOR 0.65, 95% CI 0.47 to 0.91, P=0.011) and complete reperfusion (aOR 0.62, 95% CI 0.43 to 0.89, P=0.010) were associated with a low risk of futile reperfusion in the anterior LVO patients after EVT.

CONCLUSIONS

In the ANGEL-ACT registry, 51.8% of anterior circulation LVO patients suffered futile reperfusion after EVT. Age ≥69 years, baseline NIHSS ≥14, baseline serum glucose ≥6.5 mmol/L, drip and ship, general anesthesia, baseline ASPECTS <8, and incomplete reperfusion were the independent predictors of futile reperfusion.

White matter hyperintensity burden and functional outcomes in acute ischemic stroke patients after mechanical thrombectomy: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The influence of white matter hyperintensity (WMH) on clinical outcomes in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients treated with mechanical thrombectomy (MT) remains controversial. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine whether WMH burden is associated with clinical outcomes in AIS patients after MT.

METHODS

PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science were searched from inception to Sep 03, 2023. The registration number for PROSPERO is CRD42022340568. Studies reporting an association between the burden of WMH in AIS patients and clinical outcomes after MT were included in the meta-analysis. A random-effects model was used for meta-analysis. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Additionally, the presence of imprecise-study effects was evaluated using Egger's test and funnel plot.

RESULTS

Fifteen studies with 3,456 patients were enrolled in this meta-analysis. Among AIS patients who underwent MT, moderate/severe WMH had higher odds of 90-day unfavorable functional outcomes (odds ratio [OR] 2.72, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.14-3.44; I2 = 0.0%; 95% CI 0.0%-42.7%), 90-day mortality (OR 1.94, 95% CI 1.45-2.60; I2 = 19.5%; 95% CI 0.0%-65.2%) and futile recanalization (OR 2.99, 95% CI 1.42-6.28; I2 = 69.7%; 95% CI 0.0%-91.0%) compared with none/mild WMH. However, the two groups had no significant difference in successful recanalization, symptomatic hemorrhagic transformation, and hemorrhagic transformation. A subset analysis of patients from 3 articles showed that WMH volume was not significantly associated with these outcomes. A notable limitation is that this meta-analysis lacks direct adjustment for imbalances in important baseline covariates.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with moderate/severe WMH on baseline imaging are associated with substantially increased odds of 90-day unfavorable outcomes, futile recanalization, and 90-day mortality after MT. This association suggests that moderate/severe WMH may contribute to the prediction of clinical outcomes in AIS patients after MT.

Impact of e-ASPECTS software on the performance of physicians compared to a consensus ground truth: a multi-reader, multi-case study

Background

The Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) is used to quantify the extent of injury to the brain following acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and to inform treatment decisions. The e-ASPECTS software uses artificial intelligence methods to automatically process non-contrast CT (NCCT) brain scans from patients with AIS affecting the middle cerebral artery (MCA) territory and generate an ASPECTS. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of e-ASPECTS (Brainomix, Oxford, UK) on the performance of US physicians compared to a consensus ground truth.

Methods

The study used a multi-reader, multi-case design. A total of 10 US board-certified physicians (neurologists and neuroradiologists) scored 54 NCCT brain scans of patients with AIS affecting the MCA territory. Each reader scored each scan on two occasions: once with and once without reference to the e-ASPECTS software, in random order. Agreement with a reference standard (expert consensus read with reference to follow-up imaging) was evaluated with and without software support.

Results

A comparison of the area under the curve (AUC) for each reader showed a significant improvement from 0.81 to 0.83 (p = 0.028) with the support of the e-ASPECTS tool. The agreement of reader ASPECTS scoring with the reference standard was improved with e-ASPECTS compared to unassisted reading of scans: Cohen's kappa improved from 0.60 to 0.65, and the case-based weighted Kappa improved from 0.70 to 0.81.

Conclusion

Decision support with the e-ASPECTS software significantly improves the accuracy of ASPECTS scoring, even by expert US neurologists and neuroradiologists.

Altered cerebral blood flow and white matter during wakeful rest in patients with obstructive sleep apnea: a population-based retrospective study

OBJECTIVES

To explore changes in cerebral blood flow (CBF) and white matter during wakeful rest in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

METHODS

The subjects comprised OSA patients and age- and sex-matched non-sleep apnea (NSA) subjects from December 2020 to December 2021. All subjects underwent structural and arterial spin labeling MRI examinations using a 3.0 T MRI scanner. Intergroup differences in regional and global CBF and white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) were analyzed.

RESULTS

In this study, 100 (74 males) of 750 (439 males) subjects were diagnosed with OSA, so the prevalence of OSA in the general population was 13.3% (100/750), with 16.9% (74/439) in males and 8.4% (26/311) in females. Excluding four patients with incomplete imaging data, 96 OSA patients and 103 age- and sex-matched NSA subjects were included. At global level, OSA patients showed significantly decreased CBF values in gray matter and whole brain compared to NSA subjects (gray matter: p = 0.010; whole brain: p = 0.021). No significant difference in CBF values was found in WM between the two groups (p = 0.250). At regional level, compared with NSA subjects, patients with OSA exhibited significantly decreased regional CBF values mainly in right parietal lobe and right temporal lobe. Moreover, OSA patients had significantly higher WMHs burden than NSA subjects (p = 0.017).

CONCLUSIONS

OSA patients exhibit decreased global and regional CBF values and increased WMHs burden.

ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE

These findings provide a basis for exploring neuropathological changes of OSA and for early and appropriate treatment.

Impact of leukoaraiosis in patients with acute ischemic stroke treated with thrombectomy: a post hoc analysis of the DIRECT-MT trial

BACKGROUND

The influence of leukoaraiosis in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) given intra-arterial treatment (IAT) with or without preceding intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) remains unknown.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the clinical and radiological outcomes of IAT in patients with or without leukoaraiosis.

METHODS

Patients of the direct mechanical thrombectomy trial (DIRECT-MT) whose leukoaraiosis grade could be assessed were included. DIRECT-MT was a randomized clinical trial performed in China to assess the effect of direct IAT compared with intravenous thrombolysis plus IAT. We employed the Age-Related White Matter Changes Scale for grading leukoaraiosis (ARWMC, 0 indicates no leukoaraiosis, 1-2 indicates mild-to-moderate leukoaraiosis, and 3 indicates severe leukoaraiosis) based on brain CT. The primary outcome was the score on the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) assessed at 90 days.

RESULTS

There were 656 patients in the trial, 649 patients who were included, with 432 patients without leukoaraiosis, and 217 (33.4%) patients with leukoaraiosis divided into mild-to-moderate (n=139) and severe groups (n=78). Leukoaraiosis was a predictor of a worse mRS score (adjusted OR (aOR)=0.7 (95% CI 0.5 to 0.8)) and higher mortality (aOR=1.4 (1.1 to 1.9)), but it was not associated with symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) (aOR=0.9 (0.5 to 1.5)). IVT preceding IAT did not increase sICH risk for patients with no (aOR=1.4 (0.6 to 3.4)), mild-to-moderate (aOR=1.5 (0.3 to 7.8)), or severe (aOR=1.5 (0.1 to 21.3)) leukoaraiosis.

CONCLUSION

Patients with leukoaraiosis with AIS due to large vessel occlusion are at increased risk of a poor functional outcome after IAT but demonstrate similar sICH rates, and IVT preceding IAT does not increase the risk of sICH in Chinese patients with leukoaraiosis.

Impact of leukoaraiosis or blood pressure on clinical outcome, mortality and symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage after mechanical thrombectomy in acute ischemic stroke

We aimed to study the impact of leukoaraiosis (LA) and blood pressure (BP) on clinical outcome, mortality and symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH) in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients treated with mechanical thrombectomy (MT). We analyzed data retrospectively from 521 patients with anterior large vessel occlusion treated with MT. LA was dichotomized in 0-2 (absent-to-moderate) versus 3-4 (moderate-to-severe) according to the van Swieten scale. Various systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) BP parameters during the first 24 h were collected. Multivariable logistic regressions were performed to identify predictors of a poor 90-day outcome, mortality and sICH. LA was significantly associated with poor outcome (OR 3.2; p < 0.001) and mortality (OR 3.19; p = 0.008), but not sICH (p = 0.19). Higher maximum SBP was significantly associated with poor outcome (OR per 10 mmHg increase = 1.21; p = 0.009) and lower mean DBP was a predictor of mortality (OR per 10 mmHg increase = 0.53; p < 0.001). In the univariate analysis high SBP variability was associated with poor outcome, mortality and sICH, but not in the multivariate model. There was no association between BP and sICH. Severity of LA, SBP variability, high maximum SBP and low DBP are associated with either poor outcome or mortality in AIS patients undergoing MT. However, neither LA nor BP were associated with sICH in our cohort. Thus, mechanisms of the negative impact on outcome remain unclear. Further studies on impact of BP course and its mechanisms and interventions are needed to improve outcome in patients undergoing MT.

The association between the severity and distribution of white matter lesions and hemorrhagic transformation after ischemic stroke: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background and purpose

As a part of the natural course of ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic transformation (HT) is a serious complication after reperfusion treatment, which may affect the prognosis of patients with ischemic stroke. White matter lesions (WMLs) refer to focal lesions on neuroimaging and have been suggested to indicate a high risk of HT. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to summarize current evidence on the relation between WML and HT.

Methods

This systematic review was prepared with reference to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases for publications on WML and HT in patients with ischemic stroke. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) from eligible studies were combined to quantify the association between the severity of WML and the risk of HT. In addition, the descriptive analysis was adopted to evaluate the influence of different WML distributions on predicting HT.

Results

A total of 2,303 articles were identified after removing duplicates through database searching, and 41 studies were included in our final analysis. The meta-analysis showed that the presence of WML was associated with HT (OR = 1.62, 95%CI 1.08-2.43, p = 0.019) and symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH) (OR = 1.64, 95%CI 1.17-2.30, p = 0.004), and moderate-to-severe WML indicated a high risk of HT (OR = 2.03, 95%CI 1.33-3.12, p = 0.001) and sICH (OR = 1.92, 95%CI 1.31-2.81, p < 0.001). The dose-response meta-analysis revealed risk effects of increasing the severity of WML on both HT and ICH. In addition, both periventricular WML (PWML) (five of seven articles) and deep WML (DWML) (five of six articles) were shown to be associated with HT.

Conclusions

White matter lesions are associated with overall HT and sICH in patients with ischemic stroke, and more severe WMLs indicate a high risk of HT and sICH. In addition, both PWML and DWMLs could be risk factors for HT.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier: PROSPERO CRD42022313467.

Small vessel disease burden may not portend unfavorable outcome after thrombectomy for acute large vessel occlusion

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to investigate the correlation between an overall cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) burden and outcomes after endovascular treatment (EVT) for patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) due to large vessel occlusion (LVO).

METHODS

In a multicenter registry study, we enrolled patients with EVT for anterior-circulation LVO-stroke. In 3.0-T MR imaging, we assessed 4 CSVD imaging markers, lacunes, white matter hyperintensities, cerebral microbleeds, and enlarged perivascular spaces, each assigned a score of 0 or 1 and summed up to an overall CSVD burden score of 0-4. We dichotomized the overall CSVD severity as none to mild (score 0-2) and moderate to severe (3-4). Primary outcome was 90-day functional dependence or death (modified Rankin Scale (mRS) 3-6). Secondary outcomes included increase in NIH Stroke Scale ≥ 4 within 24 h (early neurological deterioration (END)) and within 7 days, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, 90-day mRS 2-6, and 90-day mortality.

RESULTS

Among 311 patients (63.0% male; mean age 65.1 ± 12.7 years), 260 (83.6%) had none-to-mild and 51 (16.4%) had moderate-to-severe overall CSVD burden. Moderate-to-severe CSVD burden was not significantly associated with the primary outcome (47.1% versus 45.4%; p > 0.05 in univariate and multivariate logistic regression), or the secondary outcomes except for a higher risk of END (11.8% versus 3.1%; p < 0.05 in multivariate analyses). Sensitivity analyses with 0-1 versus 2-4 of the CSVD burden score, and the score as an ordinal variable, showed similar results.

CONCLUSIONS

An overall moderate-to-severe CSVD burden was not associated with 90-day functional dependence or death, after EVT for anterior-circulation LVO.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ChiCTR1900022154 KEY POINTS: • Moderate-to-severe cerebral small vessel disease burden on MRI should not be an exclusion indicator in determining the eligibility of an acute ischemic stroke patient for endovascular treatment.

Status of neurological deficits after mechanical thrombectomy in elderly patients with ischemia

BACKGROUND

Numerous studies report poorer outcomes after mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in elderly patients than in non-elderly patients. We aimed to investigate the changes in neurological symptoms after MT in elderly patients.

METHODS

We included 151 patients with acute stroke who independently performed activities of daily living before admission, underwent MT at our hospital between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2021, and had successful recanalization (thrombolysis in cerebral infarction grade >2b). The subjects were divided into two groups according to whether they were aged ≥80 years (elderly group) or <80 years (non-elderly group), and the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores and deep and subcortical white matter hyperintensity (DSWMH) grades were compared between both groups.

RESULTS

There were 57 (38 %) and 94 (62 %) patients in the elderly and non-elderly groups, respectively. After propensity score matching, the median (interquartile range) NIHSS scores were significantly higher in the elderly group than in the non-elderly group at both 24 h (12 [5.5-19] vs 8; [2-14] P = 0.040) and 1 week (8 [3-12] vs 2.5 [0-13.5]; P = 0.041) after MT but not before MT (18 [13.5-22.5] vs 20 [14.5-24]; P = 0.549). DSWMH grades were significantly higher in the elderly group than in the non-elderly group (2 [1-3] vs 1 [0-2]; P = 0.018).

CONCLUSIONS

MT in the elderly group was associated with poorer improvement in neurological symptoms from the early period after MT than in the non-elderly group, even when successful recanalization was achieved. White matter lesions may contribute to the poor neurological improvement after recanalization in the elderly group.

Effect of Cerebral Small Vessel Disease Burden on Outcomes in Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke Receiving Endovascular Treatment

Background

Cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) is common in the aging population. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of SVD on functional outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) receiving endovascular treatment (EVT).

Methods

From a prospective registry, we selected patients with AIS receiving EVT. SVD features, including white matter hyperintensities (WMH), lacunes and brain atrophy, were assessed on MRI and a validated SVD score was calculated to reflect the total SVD burden.

Results

Among 137 patients included, 106 had none-mild SVD burden and 31 had moderate-severe SVD burden. The moderate-severe SVD burden group showed a significantly higher modified Rankin Scale score at 90 d (median, 4 versus 1 points, adjusted common odds ratio 0.32 [95% CI, 0.14–0.69], P < 0.01) and a significantly smaller improvement of NIHSS at 24 h (median, –3 versus –3 points, adjusted β coefficient 4.02 [95% CI, 0.57–7.48], P = 0.02) and 7 days (median, –4 versus –6 points, adjusted β coefficient 4.71 [95% CI, 1.06–8.36], P = 0.01) than the none-mild group. There was no significant difference in successful recanalization, death within 90 days, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage within 24 h between two groups (all P > 0.05). Additionally, for each single SVD feature, brain atrophy and WMH, but not lacunes, were associated with the functional outcome.

Conclusion

Moderate-severe SVD burden was associated with poor early and late functional outcomes in patients with AIS receiving EVT. Our results suggest that SVD score may act as a good predictor of outcomes in these patients.

Impact of White Matter Hyperintensity Burden on Outcome in Large-Vessel Occlusion Stroke

Background White matter hyperintensity (WMH) has been linked to poor clinical outcomes after acute ischemic stroke. Purpose To assess whether the WMH burden on pretreatment MRI scans is associated with an increased risk for symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) or poor functional outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke treated with endovascular thrombectomy (EVT). Materials and Methods In this retrospective study, consecutive patients treated with EVT for anterior circulation acute ischemic stroke at a comprehensive stroke center (where MRI was the first-line pretreatment imaging strategy; January 2015 to December 2017) were included and analyzed. WMH volumes were assessed with semiautomated volumetric analysis at fluid-attenuated inversion recovery MRI by readers who were blinded to clinical data. The associations of WMH burden with sICH and 3-month functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale [mRS] score) were assessed. Results A total of 366 patients were included (mean age, 69 years ± 19 [SD]; 188 women [51%]). Median total WMH volume was 3.61 cm³ (IQR, 1.10-10.83 cm³). Patients demonstrated higher mRS scores with increasing WMH volumes (odds ratio [OR], 1.020 [95% CI: 1.003, 1.037] per 1.0-cm³ increase for each mRS point increase; P = .018) after adjustment for patient and clinical variables. There were no significant associations between WMH severity and 90-day mortality (OR, 1.007 [95% CI: 0.990, 1.024]; P = .40) or the occurrence of sICH (OR, 1.001 [95% CI: 0.978, 1.024]; P = .94). Conclusion Higher white matter hyperintensity burden was associated with increased risk for poor 3-month functional outcome after endovascular thrombectomy for large-vessel occlusive stroke. © RSNA, 2022 Online supplemental material is available for this article. See also the editorial by Mossa-Basha and Zhu in this issue.

Predictors and Dynamic Nomogram to Determine the Individual Risk of Malignant Brain Edema After Endovascular Thrombectomy in Acute Ischemic Stroke

Background and Purpose

This study aimed to construct an optimal dynamic nomogram for predicting malignant brain edema (MBE) in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients after endovascular thrombectomy (ET).

Methods

We enrolled AIS patients after ET from May 2017 to April 2021. MBE was defined as a midline shift of >5 mm at the septum pellucidum or pineal gland based on follow-up computed tomography within 5 days after ET. Multivariate logistic regression and LASSO (least absolute shrinkage and selection operator) regression were used to construct the nomogram. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and decision-curve analysis were used to compare our nomogram with two previous risk models for predicting brain edema after ET.

Results

MBE developed in 72 (21.9%) of the 329 eligible patients. Our dynamic web-based nomogram (https://successful.shinyapps.io/DynNomapp/) consisted of five parameters: basal cistern effacement, postoperative National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, brain atrophy, hypoattenuation area, and stroke etiology. The nomogram showed good discrimination ability, with a C-index (Harrell’s concordance index) of 0.925 (95% confidence interval=0.890–0.961), and good calibration (Hosmer-Lemeshow test, p=0.386). All variables had variance inflation factors of <1.5 and tolerances of >0.7, suggesting no significant collinearity among them. The AUC of our nomogram (0.925) was superior to those of Xiang-liang Chen and colleagues (0.843) and Ming-yang Du and colleagues (0.728).

Conclusions

Our web-based dynamic nomogram reliably predicted the risk of MBE in AIS patients after ET, and hence is worthy of further evaluation.

Leukoaraiosis severity and post-reperfusion outcomes in acute ischaemic stroke: A meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

Severity of leukoaraiosis may mediate outcomes after reperfusion therapy in acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) patients. However, the level of the association remains poorly understood. We performed a meta-analysis to investigate the impact of leukoaraiosis severity on functional outcome, survival, haemorrhagic complications, and procedural success in AIS patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis and/or endovascular thrombectomy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

PubMed, EMBASE and the Cochrane library were searched for studies on leukoaraiosis in AIS receiving reperfusion therapy. A random-effects meta-analysis was conducted for post-reperfusion outcomes in AIS patients with absent-to-mild leukoaraiosis and moderate-to-severe leukoaraiosis. The strength of association between moderate-to-severe leukoaraiosis and poor outcomes was quantified using odds ratios (OR).

RESULTS

A total of 15 eligible studies involving 6460 patients (1451 with moderate-to-severe leukoaraiosis and 5009 with absent-to-mild leukoaraiosis) were included in the meta-analysis. Moderate-to-severe leukoaraiosis was significantly associated with poor 90-day functional outcome (OR 3.16; 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.69-3.72; p < .0001), 90-day mortality (OR 3.11; 95% CI 2.27-4.26; p < .0001) and increased risk of symptomatic intracerebral haemorrhage (OR 1.69; 95% CI 1.24-2.32; p = .001) after reperfusion therapy. Overall, no significant association of leukoaraiosis severity with haemorrhagic transformation (HT) and angiographic recanalization status were observed. However, subgroup analysis revealed a significant association of WML severity with HT in patients receiving EVT.

CONCLUSION

Leukoaraiosis is a useful prognostic biomarker in AIS. Patients with moderate-to-severe leukoaraiosis on baseline imaging are likely to have worse clinical and safety outcomes after reperfusion therapy.

Transverse Sinus Stenosis in Venous Pulsatile Tinnitus Patients May Lead to Brain Perfusion and White Matter Changes

Objective: Transverse sinus stenosis (TSS) is associated with various symptoms, but whether it can lead to pathological brain changes is unclear. This study aimed to investigate brain changes in venous pulsatile tinnitus (PT) patients with TSS.

Materials and Methods: In this study, fifty-five consecutive venous PT patients and fifty age- and gender-matched healthy controls (HCs) were investigated. In CT venography, the combined conduit score (CCS) was used to assess the degree of TSS in venous PT patients. Magnetic resonance venography was used to assess TSS in HCs. All the participants had undergone arterial spin labeling and structural MRI scans.

Results: Two patients without TSS and ten HCs with TSS were excluded. Fifty-three venous PT patients with TSS and 40 HCs without TSS were included in this study. All the patients had unilateral cases: 16 on the left and 37 on the right. Based on the CCS, the patients were divided into high-degree TSS (a score of 1–2) (n = 30) and low-degree TSS groups (a score of 3–4) (n = 23). In the whole brain and gray matter, the patients with high-degree TSS showed decreased cerebral blood flow (CBF) compared with patients with low-degree TSS as well as HCs (P < 0.05), and no significant difference in CBF was found in patients with low-degree TSS and HCs (P > 0.05). In white matter (WM) regions, the patients with high-degree TSS exhibited decreased CBF relative to the HCs (P < 0.05). The incidence of cloud-like WM hyperintensity was significantly higher in the above two patient groups than in the HC group (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: TSS in venous PT patients may lead to decreased CBF and cloud-like WM hyperintensity. These neuroimaging findings may provide new insights into pathological TSS in venous PT.

Influence of renal impairment on clinical outcomes after endovascular recanalization in vertebrobasilar artery occlusions

BACKGROUND

Renal impairment (RI) is associated with worse outcomes in the treatment of intravenous thrombolysis and emergent endovascular treatment (EVT) in anterior circulation stroke. The objective of this study was to investigate the association of RI with short-term and long-term outcomes in patients with vertebrobasilar artery occlusions (VBAO) who received EVT.

METHODS

Consecutive patients with VBAO receiving EVT involving 21 stroke centers were retrospectively included. Multivariate regression analyses were used to evaluate the association of RI with mortality and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) during the hospital stay, and also mortality, favorable functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 0-3), and functional improvement (shift in mRS score) at 3 months and 1 year follow-up. The association between RI and the risk of recurrent stroke was evaluated with multivariate competing-risk regression analyses.

RESULTS

After adjustment for potential confounders, RI was independently associated with sICH (OR 3.30, 95% CI 1.55 to 7.18), as well as mortality (OR 2.54, 95% CI 1.47 to 4.38; OR 3.07, 95% CI 1.72 to 8.08), favorable functional outcome (OR 0.33, 95% CI 0.17 to 0.66; OR 0.25, 95% CI 0.12 to 0.51), and functional improvement (OR 0.45, 95% CI 0.28 to 0.74; OR 0.35, 95% CI 0.21 to 0.60) at 3 months and 1 year follow-up, respectively, but RI was not associated with in-hospital mortality. Additionally, there was no significant association between RI and recurrent stroke within 1 year.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that RI is associated with a higher risk of sICH in hospital and a decrease in survival, favorable functional outcome, and functional improvement at 90 days and 1 year follow-up.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

URL: http://www.chictr.org.cn/; Unique identifier: ChiCTR2000033211.

Leukoaraiosis and acute ischemic stroke

Ischaemic stroke is characterized by high morbidity, high disability rate, high mortality and high recurrence rate, which can have a grave impact on the quality of life of the patients and consequently becomes an economic burden on their families and society. With the developments in imaging technology in recent years, patients with acute cerebral infarction are predominantly more likely to be diagnosed with leukoaraiosis (LA). LA is a common degenerative disease of the nervous system, which is related to cognitive decline, depression, abnormal gait, ischaemic stroke and atherosclerosis. The aetiology of LA is not clear and there is no gold standard for imaging assessment. Related studies have shown that LA has an adverse effect on the prognosis of cerebral infarction, but some experts have contrary beliefs. Hence, we undertook the present review of the literature on the mechanism and the effect of LA on the prognosis of patients with acute ischaemic stroke.

Emerging role of white matter lesions in cerebrovascular disease

White matter lesions have been implicated in the setting of stroke, dementia, intracerebral haemorrhage, several other cerebrovascular conditions, migraine, various neuroimmunological diseases like multiple sclerosis, disorders of metabolism, mitochondrial diseases and others. While much is understood vis a vis neuroimmunological conditions, our knowledge of the pathophysiology of these lesions, and their role in, and implications to, management of cerebrovascular diseases or stroke, especially in the elderly, are limited. Several clinical assessment tools are available for delineating white matter lesions in clinical practice. However, their incorporation into clinical decision-making and specifically prognosis and management of patients is suboptimal for use in standards of care. This article sought to provide an overview of the current knowledge and recent advances on pathophysiology, as well as clinical and radiological assessment, of white matter lesions with a focus on its development, progression and clinical implications in cerebrovascular diseases. Key indications for clinical practice and recommendations on future areas of research are also discussed. Finally, a conceptual proposal on putative mechanisms underlying pathogenesis of white matter lesions in cerebrovascular disease has been presented. Understanding of pathophysiology of white matter lesions and how they mediate outcomes is important to develop therapeutic strategies.

Small Vessel Disease Burden and Outcomes of Mechanical Thrombectomy in Ischemic Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) is prevalent in the population, especially among elderly individuals. Substantial uncertainties remain about the clinical relevance of SVD with outcomes of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in acute ischemic stroke (AIS).

Objectives: This systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the association between SVD and clinical outcomes in patients with AIS undergoing MT.

Methods: We systematically searched the Medline, Embase, and Cochrane databases for relevant clinical studies. The exposure of SVD mainly included leukoaraiosis, cerebral microbleeds (CMBs), and lacunes. The pooled OR was used to calculate the association between each subtype of SVD and outcomes of MT. The primary outcome was poor functional outcome, which was defined as a modified Rankin Scale score (mRS) ≥3 at 90 days after MT. The secondary outcomes included mortality at 90 days, in-hospital mortality, intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH), successful recanalization and futile recanalization (FR), early neurological improvement, and early neurological deterioration (END) after MT.

Results: Overall, 20 studies with 5,189 patients with AIS undergoing MT were included. High leukoaraiosis burden (HLB) at baseline was associated with increased risks of poor functional outcome at 90 days (OR 2.70, 95% CI 2.01–3.63; p < 0.001; 10 studies; n = 2,004), in-hospital mortality (OR 4.06, 95% CI 1.48–11.13; p = 0.006; 2 studies; n = 314), FR (OR 5.00, 95% CI 2.86–8.73; p < 0.001; 3 studies; n = 493), and END (OR 2.65, 95% CI 1.09–6.45; 1 study; n = 273) after MT. HLB (VSS 3–4 or FS ≥ 2) at baseline was not associated with mortality at 90 days, ICH, or sICH after MT. CMBs at baseline were found to be associated with increased risks of poor functional outcome at 90 days (OR 1.84, 95% CI 1.17–2.90; p = 0.008; 2 studies; n = 1,924) after MT. We found no association between the presence of lacunes and poor functional outcome at 90 days after MT.

Conclusions: In patients with AIS undergoing MT, HLB and CMBs were associated with increased risks of unfavorable outcomes after MT.

Clinically accessible neuroimaging predictors of post-stroke neurocognitive disorder: a prospective observational study

Background

Neurocognitive disorder (NCD) is common in stroke survivors. We aimed to identify clinically accessible imaging markers of stroke and chronic pathology that are associated with early post-stroke NCD.

Methods

We included 231 stroke survivors from the “Norwegian Cognitive Impairment after Stroke (Nor-COAST)” study who underwent a standardized cognitive assessment 3 months after the stroke. Any NCD (mild cognitive impairment and dementia) and major NCD (dementia) were diagnosed according to “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)” criteria. Clinically accessible imaging findings were analyzed on study-specific brain MRIs in the early phase after stroke. Stroke lesion volumes were semi automatically quantified and strategic stroke locations were determined by an atlas based coregistration. White matter hyperintensities (WMH) and medial temporal lobe atrophy (MTA) were visually scored. Logistic regression was used to identify neuroimaging findings associated with major NCD and any NCD.

Results

Mean age was 71.8 years (SD 11.1), 101 (43.7%) were females, mean time from stroke to imaging was 8 (SD 16) days. At 3 months 63 (27.3%) had mild NCD and 65 (28.1%) had major NCD. Any NCD was significantly associated with WMH pathology (odds ratio (OR) = 2.73 [1.56 to 4.77], p = 0.001), MTA pathology (OR = 1.95 [1.12 to 3.41], p = 0.019), and left hemispheric stroke (OR = 1.8 [1.05 to 3.09], p = 0.032). Major NCD was significantly associated with WMH pathology (OR = 2.54 [1.33 to 4.84], p = 0.005) and stroke lesion volume (OR (per ml) =1.04 [1.01 to 1.06], p = 0.001).

Conclusion

WMH pathology, MTA pathology and left hemispheric stroke were associated with the development of any NCD. Stroke lesion volume and WMH pathology were associated with the development of major NCD 3 months after stroke. These imaging findings may be used in the routine clinical setting to identify patients at risk for early post-stroke NCD.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02650531, Registered 8 January 2016 – Retrospectively registered.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12883-021-02117-8.

Impact of leukoaraiosis severity on the association of outcomes of mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke: a systematic review and a meta-analysis

Background

Leukoaraiosis (LA) severity is associated with poor outcome after mechanical thrombectomy (MT) for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) caused by large vessel occlusion. This meta-analysis aimed to assess the association of LA severity with AIS-related risk factors and outcomes of MT.

Methods

PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Cochrane Collaboration Database was searched for studies on MT for AIS with LA. We conducted a random-effects meta-analysis for the prevalence of stroke risk factors and the MT outcome in the absent to moderate LA and severe LA groups.

Results

We included seven cohort studies involving 1294 participants (1019 with absent to moderate LA and 275 with severe LA). The absent to moderate LA group had a significantly lower prevalence of coronary artery disease (odds ratio [OR] 0.43; 95% CI 0.29–0.66), atrial fibrillation (OR, 0.26; 95% CI 0.17–0.38), hypertension (OR, 0.39; 95% CI 0.24–0.61), and ischemic stroke (OR, 0.27; 95% CI 0.15–0.50) than the severe LA group. There were no significant between-group differences in symptom onset to recanalization time (364.4 versus 356.2 min, mean difference 19.4; 95% CI − 28.3 to 67.2), final recanalization rate (modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction score of 2b/3; OR, 0.87; 95% CI 0.55–1.38), and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (OR, 0.62; 95% CI 0.34–1.11). The absent to moderate LA group had a higher good functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale score of 0–2 at 90 days; OR, 4.55; 95% CI 3.20–6.47) and a lower mortality rate (179/1019 vs 108/275; OR, 0.28; 95% CI 0.20–0.39).

Conclusion

There are unique differences in the characteristics of risk factors and clinical outcomes of ischemic stroke across patients with LA of different severity. Patients with severe LA are more likely to be associated with risk factors for cerebrovascular disease and have a poor post-MT outcome.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1007/s00415-020-10167-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Predictors of Futile Recanalization After Endovascular Treatment in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke in a Multicenter Registry Study

BACKGROUND

Futile recanalization, defined as the early recanalization of an occluded artery failing to improve neurological outcome, remains a persistent concern in the endovascular treatment of acute ischemic stroke. We investigated the occurrence and predictors of futile recanalization after endovascular treatment in a nationwide multicenter stroke registry study.

METHODS

The subjects consisted of eligible patients from the Acute Ischemic Stroke Cooperation Group of Endovascular Treatment registry study (2015-2017). Subjects with acute anterior large vessel occlusion who achieved successful angiographic recanalization (defined as modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction grades 2b or 3) by endovascular treatment were dichotomized into the futile-recanalization group (with a modified Rankin Scale score of 3-6) and the favorable-recanalization group (with a modified Rankin Scale score of 0-2) according to 90-day functional independence. Logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate predictors of futile recanalization.

RESULTS

Futile recanalization was observed in 200 (49.6%) out of 403 patients. On multivariate analysis, older age (>74 vs. ≤74; odds ratio (OR), 2.41; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.31-4.44; P=0.005), high baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score (>21 vs. ≤13; OR, 2.52; 95% CI, 1.21-5.28; P=0.014), delayed puncture to recanalization time (>80 vs. ≤80 min; OR, 2.75; 95% CI, 1.67-4.51; P=0.000), and the use of general anesthesia (OR, 1.90; 95% CI, 1.15-3.14; P=0.012) were positively associated with futile recanalization after mechanical thrombectomy.

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of futile recanalization is common following endovascular treatment among Asian patients with anterior circulation occlusion. Advanced age, higher baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, delayed puncture to reperfusion, and the use of general anesthesia are associated with lower functional independence 90 days post-treatment despite successful recanalization.