Stroke; a journal of cerebral circulation
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Efficacy and safety of vorapaxar in patients with prior ischemic stroke.
Vorapaxar is an antiplatelet agent that antagonizes thrombin-mediated activation of the protease-activated receptor-1 on platelets. We tested the efficacy and safety of vorapaxar in a prespecified analysis in the stroke subcohort from a multinational, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. ⋯ In patients with prior ischemic stroke who receive standard antiplatelet therapy, adding vorapaxar increased the risk of intracranial hemorrhage without an improvement in major vascular events, including ischemic stroke. These findings add to the accumulating evidence establishing important risks with combination antiplatelet therapy in patients with prior stroke. Clinical Trial Registration Information- http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00526474.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Minimally invasive surgery plus recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator for intracerebral hemorrhage evacuation decreases perihematomal edema.
Perihematomal edema (PHE) can worsen outcomes after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Reports suggest that blood degradation products lead to PHE. We hypothesized that hematoma evacuation will reduce PHE volume and that treatment with recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA) will not exacerbate it. ⋯ Hematoma evacuation is associated with significant reduction in PHE. Furthermore, PHE does not seem to be exacerbated by rt-PA, making such neurotoxic effects unlikely when the drug is delivered to intracranial clot.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Characteristics of ischemic brain lesions after stenting or endarterectomy for symptomatic carotid artery stenosis: results from the international carotid stenting study-magnetic resonance imaging substudy.
In a substudy of the International Carotid Stenting Study (ICSS), more patients had new ischemic brain lesions on diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) after stenting (CAS) than after endarterectomy (CEA). In the present analysis, we compared characteristics of diffusion-weighted MRI lesions. ⋯ Compared with patients undergoing CEA, patients treated with CAS had higher numbers of periprocedural ischemic brain lesions, and lesions were smaller and more likely to occur in cortical areas and subjacent white matter. These findings may reflect differences in underlying mechanisms of cerebral ischemia.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Stroke-related Early Tracheostomy versus Prolonged Orotracheal Intubation in Neurocritical Care Trial (SETPOINT): a randomized pilot trial.
Optimal timing of tracheostomy in ventilated patients with severe stroke is unclear. We aimed to investigate feasibility, safety, and potential advantages of early tracheostomy in these intensive care unit (ICU) patients. ⋯ Early tracheostomy in ventilated intensive care stroke patients is feasible, and safe, and presumably reduces sedation need. Whether the suggested benefits in mortality and outcome truly exist has to be determined by a larger multicenter trial.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Bleeding during treatment with aspirin versus apixaban in patients with atrial fibrillation unsuitable for warfarin: the apixaban versus acetylsalicylic acid to prevent stroke in atrial fibrillation patients who have failed or are unsuitable for vitamin K antagonist treatment (AVERROES) trial.
Apixaban reduces stroke with comparable bleeding risks when compared with aspirin in patients with atrial fibrillation who are unsuitable for vitamin k antagonist therapy. This analysis explores patterns of bleeding and defines bleeding risks based on stroke risk with apixaban and aspirin. ⋯ Anatomic sites and predictors of bleeding are similar for apixaban and aspirin in these patients. Higher CHADS2 scores are associated with increasing rates of bleeding and stroke, but the balance between risks and benefits of apixaban compared with aspirin is favorable irrespective of baseline stroke risk. Clinical Trial Registration Information- www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT 00496769.