scholarly journals The follow-up of patients of sixty-five years of age and younger with acute ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attacks, and elevated D-dimer levels in plasma

2009 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 11
Author(s):  
Magnus Vrethem ◽  
Tomas Lindahl

D-dimer levels in plasma, a degradation product of fibrin, have been shown to correlate with the severity of ischemic stroke. In order to investigate the outcome of patients with elevated D-dimer we have carried out a follow-up study of patients of 65 years of age and younger with acute ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attacks (TIA) admitted to our stroke unit from 1991 to 1992. Twenty-two of the 57 patients had elevated D-dimer levels in the plasma. High levels were associated with cardioembolic stroke. On follow-up after a mean of 12 years, 15 patients had died and six patients had suffered another stroke or TIA (three of whom were dead). Ten patients had suffered other cardiovascular events and seven of them were dead. We concluded that high levels of D-dimer in acute ischemic stroke patients on admission were associated with cardioembolic stroke and might have prognostic value for the development of further cardio- or cerebrovascular events. Advanced age was found to be an independent risk factor.

Stroke ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 45 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric M Liotta ◽  
Carlos Corado ◽  
Deborah L Bergman ◽  
Richard A Bernstein ◽  
Fan Z Caprio ◽  
...  

Introduction: Studies of delirium after acute stroke focus on stroke units (SUs). A protective effect of SUs against delirium has been suggested. We hypothesized that selection bias against medically complex patients accounts for this apparent effect. Methods: An observational cohort of acute ischemic stroke patients was screened for post-stroke delirium. Delirium was diagnosed using the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM). Key patient variables were prospectively recorded including initial NIHSS score and medical complications. Univariate associations with delirium were identified and a logistic regression model was developed for the entire cohort. Separate logistic regression models were also developed for non-stroke unit (NSU) and SU patients. The SU consisted of a specialized stroke ward, step-down stroke unit, and a neuroscience ICU. Results: Over 10 months 246 patients (56% male, mean 65 years, 29% in NSUs) met inclusion criteria. Delirium occurred in 30 (12%) patients and was less frequent in the SU (8.0% vs 22.5%, p=0.002). Frequency of CAM checks differed between NSU and SU (median 4.1 vs 3.7 per day; p=0.03). NSU patients had similar NIHSS scores as SU patients (median [interquartile range], 3 [1-8] vs 3 [1-5]; p=0.18) but more ICU admissions (48% vs 27%, p=0.001) and more infections (18% vs 9.7%, p=0.06). In the entire cohort, initial NIHSS (OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.02-1.13; p=0.006), cardioembolic stroke mechanism (OR 3.0, 95% CI 1.3-6.9; p=0.009) and SU care (OR 0.39, 95% CI 0.17-0.88; p=0.02) predicted delirium after correcting for covariates, including frequency of CAM checks. In the NSU model, age (OR 1.06, 95% CI 1.01-1.11; p=0.02) and infections (OR 6.8, 95% CI 1.5-30.2; p=0.01) were associated with delirium. Only cardioembolic stroke mechanism (OR 5.4, 95% CI 1.7-16.7; p=0.003) was associated with delirium in the SU model. Conclusion: Associations with delirium after acute ischemic stroke differ between NSU and SU patients. Stroke patients treated in NSUs are fundamentally different than SU patients. Given the potential for residual confounding, the lower incidence of delirium after stroke in SUs than NSUs may reflect selection bias rather than a specific effect of SU care.


Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (7) ◽  
pp. 2479
Author(s):  
Giuseppe Reale ◽  
Silvia Giovannini ◽  
Chiara Iacovelli ◽  
Stefano Filippo Castiglia ◽  
Pietro Picerno ◽  
...  

Background: It is often challenging to formulate a reliable prognosis for patients with acute ischemic stroke. The most accepted prognostic factors may not be sufficient to predict the recovery process. In this view, describing the evolution of motor deficits over time via sensors might be useful for strengthening the prognostic model. Our aim was to assess whether an actigraphic-based parameter (Asymmetry Rate Index for the 24 h period (AR2_24 h)) obtained in the acute stroke phase could be a predictor of a 90 d prognosis. Methods: In this observational study, we recorded and analyzed the 24 h upper limb movement asymmetry of 20 consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke during their stay in a stroke unit. We recorded the motor activity of both arms using two programmable actigraphic systems positioned on patients’ wrists. We clinically evaluated the stroke patients by NIHSS in the acute phase and then assessed them across 90 days using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS). Results: We found that the AR2_24 h parameter positively correlates with the 90 d mRS (r = 0.69, p < 0.001). Moreover, we found that an AR2_24 h > 32% predicts a poorer outcome (90 d mRS > 2), with sensitivity = 100% and specificity = 89%. Conclusions: Sensor-based parameters might provide useful information for predicting ischemic stroke prognosis in the acute phase.


Stroke ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 45 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tae-Jin Song ◽  
Jinkwon Kim ◽  
Dongbeom Song ◽  
Yong-Jae Kim ◽  
Hyo Suk Nam ◽  
...  

Background: Cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) were predictive of mortality in elderly and considered as a putative marker for risk of intracranial hemorrhage. Stroke patients with non valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) require anticoagulation, which increases the risk of hemorrhages. We investigated association of CMBs with the long term mortality in acute ischemic stroke patients with NVAF. Methods: During 6 years , consecutive ischemic stroke patients who had NVAF and who had undergone brain MRI with a gradient-recalled echo sequence were enrolled. Long-term mortality and causes of death were identified using data from Korean National Statistical Office. Survival analysis was performed whether the presence, number and location of CMBs were related with all causes, cardiovascular, and cerebrovascular mortality during follow-up. Results: Total 506 patients were enrolled during the study period and were followed up for median 2.5 years. CMBs were found in 30.8% of patients (156/506). Oral anticoagulation with warfarin was prescribed at discharge in 477 (82.7%) patients. During follow up, 177 (35%) patients died and cerebrovascular death was noted in 93 patients (81 ischemic stroke and 12 hemorrhagic stroke). After adjusting age, sex and significant variables in univariate analysis (p<0.1), multiple CMBs (≥5) were the independent predictor for all-cause, cardiovascular and ischemic stroke mortalities. The strictly lobar CMBs were associated with hemorrhagic stroke mortality in multivariate Cox regression analysis (HR 4.776, p=0.032) (Figure 1). Conclusions: Multiple CMBs were the independent predictor for the long term mortality in stroke patients with NVAF. Among them, patients with strictly lobar CMBs had a high risk of death due to hemorrhagic stroke. Our findings suggest that detection of CMBs in stroke patients with NVAF are of clinical relevance for predicting long term outcome and that particular concern is necessary in those with strictly lobar CMBs for their increased risk of death due to hemorrhagic stroke. Figure 1.


Circulation ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 131 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tan Xu ◽  
Yonghong Zhang ◽  
Yingxian Sun ◽  
Chung-Shiuan Chen ◽  
Jing Chen ◽  
...  

Introduction: The effects of blood pressure (BP) reduction on clinical outcomes among acute stroke patient remain uncertain. Hypothesis: We tested the effects of immediate BP reduction on death and major disability at 14 days or hospital discharge and 3-month follow-up in acute ischemic stroke patients with and without a previous history of hypertension or use of antihypertensive medications. Methods: The China Antihypertensive Trial in Acute Ischemic Stroke (CATIS) randomly assigned patients with ischemic stroke within 48 hours of onset and elevated systolic BP (SBP) to receive antihypertensive treatment (N=2,038) or to discontinue all antihypertensive medications (N=2,033) during hospitalization. Randomization was stratified by participating hospitals and use of antihypertensive medications. Study outcomes were assessed at 14 days or hospital discharge and 3-month post-treatment follow-up. The primary outcome was death and major disability (modified Rankin Scale score≥3), and secondary outcomes included recurrent stroke and vascular events. Results: Mean SBP was reduced 12.7% in the treatment group and 7.2% in the control group within 24 hours after randomization (P<0.001). Mean SBP was 137.3 mmHg in the treatment group and 146.5 in the control group at day 7 after randomization (P<0.001). At 14 days or hospital discharge, the primary and secondary outcomes were not significantly different between the treatment and control groups by subgroups. At the 3-month follow-up, recurrent stroke was significantly reduced in the antihypertensive treatment group among patients with a history of hypertension (odds ratio 0.43, 95% CI 0.24-0.75, P=0.003) and among patients with a history of use of antihypertensive medications (odds ratio 0.41, 95% CI 0.20-0.84, P=0.01). All-cause mortality (odds ratio 2.84, 95% CI 1.11-7.27, P=0.03) was increased among patients without a history of hypertension. Conclusion: Immediate BP reduction lowers recurrent stroke among acute ischemic stroke patients with a previous history of hypertension or use of antihypertensive medications at 3 months. On the other hand, BP reduction increases all-cause mortality among patients without a history of hypertension.


2018 ◽  
Vol 46 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 46-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Fujinami ◽  
Tomoyuki Ohara ◽  
Fukiko Kitani-Morii ◽  
Yasuhiro Tomii ◽  
Naoki Makita ◽  
...  

Background: This study assessed the incidence and predictors of short-term stroke recurrence in ischemic stroke patients with active cancer, and elucidated whether cancer-associated hypercoagulation is related to early recurrent stroke. Methods: We retrospectively enrolled acute ischemic stroke patients with active cancer admitted to our hospital between 2006 and 2017. Active cancer was defined as diagnosis or treatment for any cancer within 12 months before stroke onset, known recurrent cancer or metastatic disease. The primary clinical outcome was recurrent ischemic stroke within 30 days. Results: One hundred ten acute ischemic stroke patients with active cancer (73 men, age 71.3 ± 10.1 years) were enrolled. Of those, recurrent stroke occurred in 12 patients (11%). When patients with and without recurrent stroke were compared, it was found that those with recurrent stroke had a higher incidence of pancreatic cancer (33 vs. 10%), systemic metastasis (75 vs. 39%), multiple vascular territory infarctions (MVTI; 83 vs. 40%), and higher ­D-dimer levels (16.9 vs. 2.9 µg/mL). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that each factor mentioned above was not significantly associated with stroke recurrence independently, but high D-dimer (hDD) levels (≥10.4 µg/mL) and MVTI together were significantly associated with stroke recurrence (OR 6.20, 95% CI 1.42–30.7, p = 0.015). Conclusions: Ischemic stroke patients with active cancer faced a high risk of early recurrent stroke. The concurrence of hDD levels (≥10.4 µg/mL) and MVTI was an independent predictor of early recurrent stroke in active cancer patients. Our findings suggest that cancer-associated hypercoagulation increases the early recurrent stroke risk.


Stroke ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 48 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ki Woong Nam ◽  
Chi Kyung Kim ◽  
Tae Jung Kim ◽  
Sang Joon An ◽  
Kyungmi Oh ◽  
...  

Background: Stroke in cancer patients is not rare, but is a devastating event with high mortality. However, the predictors of mortality in stroke patients with cancer have not been well addressed. D-dimer could be a useful predictor because it can reflect both thromboembolic events and advanced stages of cancer. In this study, we evaluate the possibility of D-dimer as a predictor of 30-day mortality in stroke patients with active cancer. Methods: We included 210 ischemic stroke patients with active cancer. The data of 30-day mortality were collected by reviewing medical records. We also collected follow-up D-dimer levels in 106 (50%) participants to evaluate the effects of treatment response on D-dimer levels. Results: Of the 210 participants, 30-day mortality occurred in 28 (13%) patients. Higher initial NIHSS score, D-dimer levels, CRP levels, frequent cryptogenic mechanism, systemic metastasis, multiple vascular territory lesion, hemorrhagic transformation, and larger infarct volume were related to 30-day mortality. In the multivariate analysis, D-dimer [adjusted OR (aOR) = 2.19; 95% CI, 1.46-3.28, P < 0.001] predicted 30-day mortality after adjusting for confounders. Initial NIHSS score (aOR = 1.07; 95% CI, 1.00-1.14, P = 0.043) and hemorrhagic transformation (aOR = 3.02; 95% CI, 1.10-8.29, P = 0.032) were also significant independently from D-dimer levels. In the analysis of D-dimer changes after treatment, the mortality group showed no significant decrease of D-dimer levels, despite treatment, while the survivor group showed opposite responses. Conclusions: D-dimer levels may predict 30-day mortality in acute ischemic stroke patients with active cancer.


2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 910-916 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thorkild Terkelsen ◽  
Marie Louise Schmitz ◽  
Claus Z Simonsen ◽  
Heidi H Hundborg ◽  
Hanne K Christensen ◽  
...  

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