Stroke; a journal of cerebral circulation
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Comparison of plasmin with recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator in lysis of cerebral thromboemboli retrieved from patients with acute ischemic stroke.
Plasmin is a direct-acting thrombolytic with a better safety profile than recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rtPA) in animal models. With the application of retrieval devices for managing acute ischemic stroke, extracted thromboemboli are available for ex vivo examination. We ask whether such thrombi are amenable to plasmin thrombolysis and whether such activity is different with rtPA. ⋯ Retrieved human cerebral thromboemboli were amenable to ex vivo lysis by plasmin, the rate and degree of which was not different than that achieved with rtPA.
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Current selection criteria for intra-arterial therapies in the anterior circulation use time windows of 8 hours. Modern neuroimaging techniques have identified individuals with salvageable penumbra who present beyond this timeframe. We sought to assess safety, procedural, and clinical outcomes of MRI or CT perfusion imaging-based endovascular therapy in patients with anterior circulation stroke treated beyond 8 hours from time last seen well. ⋯ Endovascular therapy can be instituted with acceptable safety beyond 8 hours from time last seen well when selection is based on advanced neuroimaging. Successful revascularization is significantly associated with higher rates of good outcomes. The benefit of this approach compared with standard medical therapy should be assessed in a prospective randomized trial.
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Multicenter Study
Local brain temperature reduction through intranasal cooling with the RhinoChill device: preliminary safety data in brain-injured patients.
Hypothermia is neuroprotectant but currently available cooling methods are laborious, invasive, and require whole-body cooling. There is a need for less invasive cooling of the brain. This study was conducted to assess the safety and efficacy of temperature reduction of the RhinoChill transnasal cooling device. ⋯ Intranasal cooling with the RhinoChill device appears safe and effectively lowers brain and core temperatures. Further study is warranted to assess the efficacy of hypothermia through intranasal cooling for brain-injured patients.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effects of blood pressure lowering on major vascular events among patients with isolated diastolic hypertension: the perindopril protection against recurrent stroke study (PROGRESS) trial.
Despite clear evidence that blood pressure (BP) lowering is effective for prevention of cardiovascular events among patients with isolated systolic hypertension and systolic-diastolic hypertension, there is ongoing uncertainty about its effects in those with isolated diastolic hypertension. The objective of the present analysis is to determine whether BP lowering provides benefits to patients with isolated diastolic hypertension. ⋯ BP lowering is likely to provide a similar level of protection against major vascular events for patients with isolated diastolic hypertension as for those with isolated systolic hypertension and systolic-diastolic hypertension. Clinical Trial Registration Information- This trial was not registered because patients were enrolled before July 1, 2005.
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Collaterals sustain the ischemic penumbra to limit growth of the infarct core before revascularization, yet the impact of baseline collateral flow on hemorrhagic transformation (HT) after endovascular therapy remains unknown. ⋯ Angiographic grade of collateral flow strongly influences the rate of HT after therapeutic recanalization for acute ischemic stroke. Collateral status readily available from baseline angiography may therefore refine therapeutic decision-making in acute cerebral ischemia.