Cerebrovascular diseases
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Cerebrovascular diseases · Jan 2009
Comparative StudyContrast transcranial Doppler can diagnose large patent foramen ovale.
Contrast transesophageal echocardiography (c-TEE) and contrast transcranial Doppler (c-TCD) are useful diagnostic tools for detecting right-to-left shunts (RLS). However, the diagnostic accuracy of c-TCD for patent foramen ovale (PFO) remains uncertain. We investigated the relationship between the size of PFO determined by c-TEE and c-TCD findings and assessed the detectable rate of RLS by c-TCD. ⋯ When two or more MES were determined by c-TCD, large PFO could be accurately diagnosed.
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Cerebrovascular diseases · Jan 2009
Characterisation of the diagnostic window of serum glial fibrillary acidic protein for the differentiation of intracerebral haemorrhage and ischaemic stroke.
The rapid differentiation between intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) and ischaemic stroke (IS) using biomarker testing would allow the prehospital, cause-specific management of stroke patients. Based on single measurements made during the acute phase of stroke, the value of serum glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) was reported to be higher in ICH patients than in IS patients. The aim of the present study was to characterise the diagnostic window of serum GFAP for differentiating between ICH and IS. ⋯ The time window between 2 and 6 h after stroke onset is best for using GFAP to differentiate between ICH and IS. In the very early phase (i.e. <2 h), sensitivity for detecting ICH is low, thus hampering the application of GFAP as a near-patient test in the prehospital phase.
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Cerebrovascular diseases · Jan 2009
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyRationale and design of a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group study of terutroban 30 mg/day versus aspirin 100 mg/day in stroke patients: the prevention of cerebrovascular and cardiovascular events of ischemic origin with terutroban in patients with a history of ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (PERFORM) study.
Ischemic stroke is the leading cause of mortality worldwide and a major contributor to neurological disability and dementia. Terutroban is a specific TP receptor antagonist with antithrombotic, antivasoconstrictive, and antiatherosclerotic properties, which may be of interest for the secondary prevention of ischemic stroke. This article describes the rationale and design of the Prevention of cerebrovascular and cardiovascular Events of ischemic origin with teRutroban in patients with a history oF ischemic strOke or tRansient ischeMic Attack (PERFORM) Study, which aims to demonstrate the superiority of the efficacy of terutroban versus aspirin in secondary prevention of cerebrovascular and cardiovascular events. ⋯ The PERFORM Study will explore the benefits and safety of terutroban in secondary cardiovascular prevention after a cerebral ischemic event.