Objectives To assess the efficacy and safety of dl-3-butylphthalide for patients with acute ischemic stroke. Methods We collected randomized controlled trials, which compared dl-3-butylphthalide agents with placebo or open control in patients with acute ischaemic stroke, by searching the electronic bibliographic databases, scanning references listed in articles and handsearching journals. Meta-analysis was conducted based on the methods recommended by the Cochrane Collaboration. Results Twenty-one trials involving 2 123 patients were included, of which 2 were placebo-controlled and 19 were open-label controlled. Meta-analysis of 10 trials (n=958), in which neurological deficits were assessed by CSS, suggested that there were significant differences favoring butylphthalide in the mean change of neurological deficits’ score during the treatment period [MD=2.30, 95%CI (1.57, 3.03)]. Meta-analysis of 6 trials (n=590), in which neurological deficits were assessed by NIHSS, also favored butylphthalide [MD=2.06, 95%CI (0.65, 3.46)]. Adverse events (AEs) were reported in 13 trials. Gastrointestinal discomfort (1.7%~8%) and abnormal liver function including abnormal ALT (1.4%~17.5%) and abnormal AST (1.9%~8.82%) were the two most common AEs. However, no severe adverse events (SAEs) were reported. Numbers of dead and dependent patients at the end of followup (at least three months) were not reported in the 21 included trials. Quality of life was not assessed in any of the trials. Conclusion Dl-3-butylphthalide can improve the neurological function after acute ischemic stroke and appears to be safe. However, further study is needed to confirm its effects for lowering rates of death and dependency.
Objective To investigate the risk factors, clinical features and outcomes of patients with large hemispheric infarction (LHI), and explore the association between TOAST classification and LHI. Methods We prospectively registered consecutive cases of acute ischemic stroke at the neurological wards of West China Hospital, Sichuan University from January 1st 2010 to February 29th 2012. We collected the demographic data, risk factors, and other related data, assessed the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores at admission, and followed-up the Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores at the third month from the onset. In different TOAST classifications, univariate analysis and multivariate analysis were used to find predictors for the occurrence and prognosis of LHI. Results Of the enrolled 1 729 patients with acute ischemic stroke, 317 (18.3%) had LHI. The multivariate analysis showed that male, hypertension and onset to admission time were the independent predictive factors for the large-artery atherosclerosis type LHI (P<0.05); atrial fibrillation and valvulopathy were the independent predictive factors for cardioembolism type LHI (P<0.05). Meanwhile, age, hypertension, onset to admission time, and NIHSS and GCS scores at admission were the independent predictive factors for death/disability (mRS>3) within three months (P<0.05). Conclusions Hypertension, gender, onset to admission time, atrial fibrillation, and valvulopathy are independently associated with the occurrence of LHI. Young patients with lower GCS, higher NIHSS scores and no hypertension are more likely to have a better prognosis after LHI.
Hemorrhagic transformation is one of the most serious complications after endovascular treatment in patients with acute ischemic stroke, which is closely related to neurological deterioration and poor functional prognosis. Therefore, early detection and treatment of hemorrhagic transformation are of great significance for improving patient prognosis. Brain CT, CT angiography, CT perfusion imaging, MRI, diffusion weighted imaging, and susceptibility weighted imaging are relatively commonly used imaging methods in clinical practice. Reasonable use of imaging methods can reduce the risk of hemorrhagic transformation and improve patient prognosis. This article reviews common imaging evaluation techniques for hemorrhagic transformation in clinical practice in order to provide ideas for clinical diagnosis and treatment.
Objective To explore the impact of early blood pressure reduction on the prognosis of acute ischemic stroke. Methods We searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Wanfang, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Chongqing VIP, with the search period from databases establishment to December 31, 2024. Randomized controlled studies on early blood pressure reduction within 7 days after the onset of acute ischemic stroke were included, and meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.4 software. Results Finally, 15 randomized controlled studies were included. The meta-analysis results showed that there was no statistically significant difference in the primary outcome (90 days disability or death) and the secondary outcomes (90 days all-cause death) between the early blood pressure reduction group and the control group (P>0.05). Compared with the control group, the early blood pressure reduction group had a higher National Institute of Health Stroke Scale score at 2 weeks [standardized mean difference=0.25, 95% confidence interval (0.07, 0.44), P=0.008]. Conclusion Early blood pressure reduction cannot reduce the risk of 90 days disability or death and 90 days all-cause death in patients with acute ischemic stroke, and may be detrimental to 2 weeks neurological function recovery.
ObjectiveTo explore the association between glycosylated hemoglobin level and poor prognosis in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis.MethodsThe AIS patients treated with recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator who were hospitalized in the Department of Neurology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Science and Technology from September to December 2020 were retrospectively included. According to different levels of glycosylated hemoglobin, they were divided into pre-diabetic group (5.7%≤glycated hemoglobin≤6.4%), diabetic group (previously diabetic or glycosylated hemoglobin≥6.5%), and non-diabetic group (glycated hemoglobin <5.7%). The relevant information of the patients was collected, and a telephone follow-up was conducted 90 days after discharge. According to the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score, the patients were divided into the good prognosis group (mRS score≤2) and the poor prognosis group (mRS score>2). Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the risk factors for the poor prognosis of intravenous thrombolysis in patients with AIS.ResultEventually 101 patients were included, including 44 in the non-diabetic group, 24 in the pre-diabetic group, and 33 in the diabetic group. And 64 patients were in the good prognosis group and 37 patients were in the poor prognosis group. Regression analysis results showed that diabetes was associated with poor prognosis 3 months after intravenous thrombolysis in patients with AIS [odds ratio=6.518, 95% confidence interval (1.568, 27.096), P=0.010]; and the higher the National Institutesof Health Stroke Scale score at admission was, the higher the risk of poor prognosis would be [odds ratio=1.421, 95% confidence interval (1.231, 1.640), P<0.001].ConclusionIn AIS patients who received intravenous thrombolysis, diabetes is associated with poor prognosis after 3 months.
ObjectiveTo explore the relevance of an increase in neutrophil count and early neurological deterioration (END) after intravenous thrombolysis in patients with acute ischemic stroke.MethodsA retrospective study was conducted on the patients who received thrombolysis treatment of alteplase within 4.5 hours after onset between January 2017 and November 2018. Based on the existence of END, the patients were divided into the END group and the non-END group. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression, and receiver operating characteristic curves were used to analyze the relevances between END and the indexes such as neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) after thrombolysis. Paired sample t test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test were used to compare the changes of neutrophil and lymphocyte before and after thrombolysis.ResultsA total of 187 patients were included, including 48 in the END group and 139 in the non-END group. Before thrombolysis, the differences of total protein (t=2.130, P=0.035) and albumin (t=2.777, P=0.007) between the two groups were statistically significant, but the differences in other clinical indexes between the two groups were not statistically significant (P>0.05). After thrombolysis, white blood cell count, neutrophil count, NLR, fibrinase degradation product, baseline and change of National Institute of Health Stroke Scale score, proportion of cardiogenic embolism, degree of responsible vascular stenosis and anterior circulation cortical infarction site were all higher in the END group than those in the non-END group (P<0.05). The total protein, albumin, lymphocyte count and prealbumin in the END group were lower than those in the non-END group (P<0.05). Neutrophil in the END group increased significantly (Z=−2.314, P=0.021) after thrombolysis. Neutrophil count [odds ratio=1.288, 95% confidence interval (1.069, 1.552)] was one of the independent influencing factors of venous thrombolysis END, and the specificity was the highest (the sensitivity was 62.5%, and the specificity was 71.9%).ConclusionsAfter thrombolysis, elevated neutrophil count has some relevance to END. Dynamic monitoring on neutrophil count after intravenous thrombolysis treatment can predict the occurrence of END.
ObjectiveTo explore the risk factors of stroke-associated pneumonia (SAP) in the patients with acute ischemic stroke, in order to provide effective guidance for clinical prevention and treatment.MethodsFrom November 2016 to November 2019, 330 patients with acute ischemic stroke admitted to the Department of Neurology of West China Hospital of Sichuan University and the Department of Neurology of the Sixth People’s Hospital of Chengdu were selected as the research object. The clinical data of the patients were analyzed retrospectively. According to whether SAP occurred, they were divided into infected group and non-infected group. Multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the risk factors of SAP.ResultsA total of 71 cases of SAP occurred in patients with acute ischemic stroke, accounting for 21.52%. Logistic regression analysis showed that age≥70 years old [odds ratio (OR)=3.677, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.452, 9.311), P=0.006], chronic lung disease [OR=4.985, 95%CI (1.558, 15.952), P=0.007], disturbance of consciousness [OR=7.147, 95%CI (1.617, 31.587), P=0.009], bulbar palsy [OR=5.909, 95%CI (2.668, 13.089), P<0.001], the use of nasal feeding tube [OR=7.427, 95%CI (1.681, 32.812), P=0.008] were independent risk factors for SAP in patients with acute ischemic stroke.ConclusionsAge≥70 years old, chronic lung disease, disturbance of consciousness, bulbar paralysis and use of nasal feeding tube are independent risk factors for SAP. It is necessary to strengthen the management of these risk factors in order to identify high-risk patients with SAP early, and develop intervention strategies for risk factors, so as to improve the prognosis.
Objective To evaluate the ability of the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index and the brain symmetry index (BSI) to predict stroke recurrence in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Methods This retrospective study enrolled 366 AIS patients admitted to the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University between January 2021 and August 2022. Before discharge, resting electroencephalography was recorded to obtain the eyes-open BSI (BSIo) and eyes-closed BSI (BSIc); the TyG index was calculated concurrently. Stroke recurrence was assessed at 3, 6, 12 and 18 months. Logistic regression and receiver-operating characteristic analyses were used to determine the predictive performance of baseline TyG index, BSIo and BSIc. Results Sixty-two patients (16.9%) experienced stroke recurrence within 18 months. Baseline TyG index, BSIo and BSIc were significantly higher in the recurrence group than those in the non-recurrence group (P<0.05). Multivariable logistic regression identified TyG index [odds ratio (OR)=2.273, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.441, 3.585)] and BSIo [OR=27.305, 95%CI (1.155, 645.737)] as independent predictors of recurrence (P<0.05). TyG index and BSIo provided the highest predictive accuracy for recurrence within 3 months (area under the curve=0.777 and 0.795, respectively); their discriminative ability declined over longer follow-up periods. BSIo correlated positively with the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale and modified Rankin Scale scores (P<0.001), and was elevated in patients with atrial fibrillation, heart failure or small-artery occlusion (P<0.05), while lowered in patients with diabetes (P<0.05). Conclusion Elevated TyG index and BSIo are closely associated with stroke recurrence after AIS and may serve as useful adjuncts for early risk stratification and individualized secondary prevention.
This article explores the application and research progress of shared decision-making (SDM) tools in ultra-early vascular recanalization therapy for ischemic stroke, focusing on analyzing the functional characteristics and advantages and disadvantages of various tools. Based on functional goals, SDM tools can be divided into four categories: brief decision aids, risk communication tools, patient information tools, and prognosis assessment tools. These tools can assist patients and doctors in making informed treatment decisions quickly in time-sensitive situations, providing a reference for optimizing stroke revascularization treatment. Additionally, SDM tools can facilitate communication between doctors and patients, enabling patients to better understand the risks and benefits of treatment options, leading to choices more aligned with personal preferences and values. Through an in-depth study of these SDM tools, it is expected to improve the diagnostic and treatment efficiency for stroke patients, reduce decision conflicts, promote collaboration between doctors and patients, and provide new ideas and methods for stroke treatment and management.
Objective To investigate the association of serum albumin and relevant composite indicators with malignant brain edema after acute ischemic stroke. Methods We screened patients with acute ischemic stroke admitted to the Department of Neurology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University between January and December 2022. The case group consisted of patients who developed malignant brain edema within 7 days of admission, while the control group consisted of patients who did not develop malignant brain edema within 7 days of admission. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to explore the association of serum albumin and relevant composite indicators with malignant brain edema after acute ischemic stroke. Results Finally, 428 patients were included, aged 70.00 (58.00, 82.00) years, with females accounting for 40.9% (n=175). The time from onset to admission was 10.00 (4.00, 24.00) hours. Forty-three patients (10.0%) developed malignant brain edema and were classified as the case group, and their onset time of malignant brain edema was 34.00 (22.50, 56.50) hours after the onset of the disease. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the increase in the score of the baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scores [odds ratio (OR)=1.167], the combination of diabetes (OR=5.525), the treatment of thrombectomy (OR=23.875), and the neutrophil percentage-to-albumin ratio higher than the median (OR=3.806) were associated with the increased risk of malignant brain edema (P<0.05), and the successful reperfusion after thrombectomy (OR=0.120) was associated with the reduced risk of malignant brain edema (P<0.05). Conclusion A higher percentage of serum neutrophil percentage-to-albumin ratio within 24 hours of onset in patients with acute ischemic stroke is associated with an increased risk of malignant brain edema within 7 days of admission.