Association of prestroke metformin use, stroke severity, and thrombolysis outcome
ObjectiveTo evaluate whether pretreatment with metformin (MET) is associated with less stroke severity and better outcome after IV thrombolysis (IVT), we analyzed a cohort of 1,919 patients with stroke with type 2 diabetes mellitus in a multicenter exploratory analysis.MethodsData from patients with diabetes and ischemic stroke treated with IVT were collected within the European Thrombolysis in Ischemic Stroke Patients (TRISP) collaboration. We applied propensity score matching (PSM) to obtain balanced baseline characteristics of patients treated with and without MET.ResultsOf 1,919 patients with stroke with type 2 diabetes who underwent IVT, 757 (39%) had received MET before stroke (MET+),…
Intravenous thrombolysis for suspected ischemic stroke with seizure at onset
Objective Seizure at onset (SaO) has been considered a relative contraindication for intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) in patients with acute ischemic stroke, although this appraisal is not evidence based. Here, we investigated the prognostic significance of SaO in patients treated with IVT for suspected ischemic stroke. Methods In this multicenter, IVT-registry-based study we assessed the association between SaO and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH, European Cooperative Acute Stroke Study II definition), 3-month mortality, and 3-month functional outcome on the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) using unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression, coarsened exact matching, and inverse probabil…
Antagonizing dabigatran by idarucizumab in cases of ischemic stroke or intracranial hemorrhage in Germany—Updated series of 120 cases
Background Idarucizumab is a monoclonal antibody fragment with high affinity for dabigatran reversing its anticoagulant effects within minutes. Thereby, patients with acute ischemic stroke who are on dabigatran treatment may become eligible for thrombolysis with recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA). In patients on dabigatran with intracerebral hemorrhage idarucizumab could prevent lesion growth. Aims To provide insights into the clinical use of idarucizumab in patients under effective dabigatran anticoagulation presenting with signs of acute ischemic stroke or intracranial hemorrhage. Methods Retrospective data collected from German neurological/neurosurgical departments ad…
Safety of endovascular treatment in acute stroke patients taking oral anticoagulants
International journal of stroke 12(4), 412-415 (2017). doi:10.1177/1747493016677986
Recanalization Therapies in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients Impact of Prior Treatment With Novel Oral Anticoagulants on Bleeding Complications and Outcome A Pilot Study
Background— We explored the safety of intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) or intra-arterial treatment (IAT) in patients with ischemic stroke on non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs, last intake <48 hours) in comparison with patients (1) taking vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) or (2) without previous anticoagulation (no-OAC). Methods and Results— This is a multicenter cohort pilot study. Primary outcome measures were (1) occurrence of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) in 3 categories: any ICH (ICH any ), symptomatic ICH according to the criteria of the European Cooperative Acute Stroke Study II (ECASS-II) (sICH ECASS-II ) and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke …
Mechanical recanalization in basilar artery occlusion: The ENDOSTROKE study
Objective A study was undertaken to evaluate clinical and procedural factors associated with outcome and recanalization in endovascular stroke treatment (EVT) of basilar artery (BA) occlusion. Methods ENDOSTROKE is an investigator-initiated multicenter registry for patients undergoing EVT. This analysis includes 148 consecutive patients with BA occlusion, with 59% having received intravenous thrombolysis prior to EVT. Recanalization (defined as Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction [TICI] score 2b–3) and collateral status (using the American Society of Interventional and Therapeutic Neuroradiology/Society of Interventional Radiology collateral grading system) were assessed by a blinded core l…
Intravenous Thrombolysis in Patients Dependent on the Daily Help of Others Before Stroke
Background and Purpose— We compared outcome and complications in patients with stroke treated with intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) who could not live alone without help of another person before stroke (dependent patients) versus independent ones. Methods— In a multicenter IVT-register–based cohort study, we compared previously dependent (prestroke modified Rankin Scale score, 3–5) versus independent (prestroke modified Rankin Scale score, 0–2) patients. Outcome measures were poor 3-month outcome (not reaching at least prestroke modified Rankin Scale [dependent patients]; modified Rankin Scale score of 3–6 [independent patients]), death, and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage. Unadjusted an…
Non-office-hours admission affects intravenous thrombolysis treatment times and clinical outcome
In patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis (IVT), an unfavourable ‘non-office-hours effect’ on door-to-needle time (DNT) and clinical outcome has been suggested. This effect has been attributed to a number of factors, mostly related to either less efficient logistics or less (experienced) staffing during non-office hours (NH). These factors could result in longer DNTs and more protocol violations and thus in worse clinical outcome. On the other hand, one could also argue that the workload during NH is lower, which could result in less time delays in the various diagnostic processes and thus in better clinical outcome. Our hypothesis is that admission during NH has a negative effect o…
Cohort profile: Thrombolysis in Ischemic Stroke Patients (TRISP): a multicentre research collaboration
PurposeThe ThRombolysis in Ischemic Stroke Patients (TRISP) collaboration aims to address clinically relevant questions about safety and outcomes of intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) and endovascular thrombectomy. The findings can provide observational information on treatment of patients derived from everyday clinical practice.ParticipantsTRISP is an open, investigator-driven collaborative research initiative of European stroke centres with expertise in treatment with revascularisation therapies and maintenance of hospital-based registries. All participating centres made a commitment to prospectively collect data on consecutive patients with stroke treated with IVT using standardised definiti…
Intracerebral Hemorrhage and Outcome After Thrombolysis in Stroke Patients Using Selective Serotonin-Reuptake Inhibitors.
Background and Purpose— Selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) impair platelet function and have been linked to a higher risk of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage—an association that may be augmented by oral anticoagulants (OAC). We aimed to assess whether preadmission treatment with SSRIs in patients with acute ischemic stroke is associated with post-thrombolysis symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH) and functional outcome. Methods— A multicenter retrospective analysis was conducted in prospective registries of patients treated by thrombolysis within 4.5 hours of stroke onset. The association between preadmission treatment with SSRIs and sICH (ECASS II definition [Europe…