Stroke; a journal of cerebral circulation
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Stroke survivors are often described as apathetic. Because apathy may be a barrier to participation in promising therapies, more needs to be learned about apathy symptoms after stroke. The specific objective was to estimate the extent to which apathy changes with time over the first year after stroke and the impact of apathy on recovery. ⋯ Some degree of apathy was prevalent and persistent after stroke and was predicted by older age, poor cognitive status, and low functional status after stroke. Even a minor level of apathy had an important and statistically significant impact on stroke outcomes.
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Organized inpatient stroke care consists of a multidisciplinary approach aimed at improving stroke outcomes. It is unclear whether elderly individuals benefit from these interventions to the same extent as younger patients. We sought to determine whether the reduction in mortality or institutionalization seen with organized stroke care was similar across all age groups. ⋯ Stroke units and organized inpatient care reduce death or institutionalization with the same magnitude of effect across all age groups.
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This is a retrospective review of patients who underwent endovascular recanalization > or = 8 hours after acute ischemic stroke symptom onset, including wake-up strokes, between June 2005 and June 2008. ⋯ Our data show that delayed endovascular revascularization of carefully selected patients is safe, effective, and improves clinical outcome.
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Letter
Total mismatch: negative diffusion-weighted imaging but extensive perfusion defect in acute stroke.
The perfusion-weighted imaging (PWI)/diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) mismatch may identify patients who benefit from thrombolysis. However, some patients exhibit a "total mismatch," ie, negative DWI but extensive PWI defect. We aimed to assess clinical and MRI data of these patients. ⋯ PWI may be helpful for treatment decisions in patients without DWI damage and fluctuating clinical course.