Stroke; a journal of cerebral circulation
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study Controlled Clinical Trial
Factors affecting clot lysis rates in patients with spontaneous intraventricular hemorrhage.
In the treatment of severe intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), thrombolytic use and clot size are known to influence clot lysis rates. We evaluated the effect of other variables on IVH clot lysis rates among patients treated with recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator or placebo. ⋯ Although thrombolysis remains the major determinant of IVH clot lysis rate, higher baseline serum plasminogen and lower platelet count also predict faster clot lysis. Further studies are needed to confirm whether plasminogen availability and thrombus structure impact IVH clot removal. Clinical Trial Registration- URL: http://clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00650858.
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Proportion of patients treated with thrombolysis in a centralized versus a decentralized acute stroke care setting.
Today, treatment of acute stroke consists of tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA), admission to a stroke unit, and aspirin. Although tPA treatment is the most effective, there is substantial undertreatment. Centralized care may affect rate, timing, and outcome of thrombolysis compared to decentralized treatment in community hospitals. The present study aimed to assess the impact of organizational models on the proportion of patients undergoing tPA treatment. ⋯ In a centralized setting, the results demonstrate a 50% increased likelihood of treatment. Prehospital factors seem to contribute to this result.
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Multicenter Study
Covert neurological symptoms associated with silent infarcts from midlife to older age: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study.
Unrecognized or unreported stroke-like symptoms, called covert symptoms, occur in persons free of clinical stroke. Whether covert symptoms are associated with subclinical brain infarcts (SBIs) is unknown. This study examined the association between covert stroke-like symptoms and SBI/stroke in persons with no history of stroke or transient ischemic attack. ⋯ Covert neurological symptoms were associated with prevalent SBI, and when ascertained at the time of follow-up MRI, with new SBI. Covert symptoms may reflect heightened risk for infarcts.