Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry
-
J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Mar 2013
Meta AnalysisPolymorphisms of the serotonin transporter gene and post-stroke depression: a meta-analysis.
Polymorphisms of the gene encoding the serotonin transporter-specifically, length variation in the serotonin--transporter-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR), a single-nucleotide polymorphism in the 5-HTTLPR (rs25531), and variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) in the second intron 2 (STin2)--have been implicated in the development of post-stroke depression (PSD). ⋯ The 5-HTTLPR SS genotype may be a risk factor for PSD. The 5-HTTLPR LL genotype showed a significant negative association with PSD. Further research to assess the sensitivity and specificity of predicting the risk of developing PSD by screening for the 5-HTTLPR genotype in stroke patients is required.
-
J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Mar 2013
Review Meta AnalysisCerebral microbleeds and the risk of intracerebral haemorrhage after thrombolysis for acute ischaemic stroke: systematic review and meta-analysis.
Intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) remains the most devastating yet unpredictable complication of intravenous thrombolysis for acute ischaemic stroke. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis, to assess whether the presence of cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) on prethrombolysis MRI scans is associated with an increased risk of ICH. ⋯ The available evidence does not demonstrate a statistically significant increased risk of symptomatic ICH after thrombolysis for ischaemic stroke in patients with CMBs. However, in view of the methodological limitations of the studies included, the clinical relevance of any potential hazard associated with CMBs remains uncertain. Further studies are warranted to evaluate whether the risk of ICH might outweigh the benefit of thrombolysis, especially in patients with multiple lobar CMBs suggestive of cerebral amyloid angiopathy.
-
J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Mar 2013
Multicenter StudyRates and predictors of risk of stroke and its subtypes in diabetes: a prospective observational study.
Small vessel disease is reported to be a more common cause of ischaemic stroke in people with diabetes than in others. However, population based studies have shown no difference between those with and those without diabetes in the subtypes of stroke. We determined the rates and predictors of risk of stroke and its subtypes in the Fenofibrate Intervention and Event Lowering in Diabetes (FIELD) trial. ⋯ Older people with a history of stroke were at highest risk of stroke, but the prognosis and prognostic factors of subtypes were heterogeneous. The results will help clinicians quantify the absolute risk of stroke and its subtypes for typical diabetes patients.
-
J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Mar 2013
ReviewStent usage in the treatment of intracranial aneurysms: past, present and future.
As endovascular approaches to intracranial aneurysm (IA) treatment continue to evolve, the use of intracranial stents has advanced from an infrequent adjunct to potential curative monotherapy. Early results of endovascular therapy for IAs have clearly underscored large aneurysm size, low coil packing density and wide aneurysm neck as factors limiting successful long term obliteration. ⋯ As evidence of their utility as flow diversion devices and as catalysts for aneurysm neck remodeling surfaced, their potential as standalone therapy was realised and is currently under close scrutiny. Here we review the evolution of stents in the treatment of IAs, from balloon expandable stents, to self-expanding stents, to the exciting advances in monotherapeutic flow diverting stents, amalgamating occlusion rates and reviewing complication rates.