Pedro Castro, J Ferreira, Branko Malojcic, Danira Bazadona, Claudio Baracchini, Alessio Pieroni, David Skoloudik, Elsa Azevedo, Manfred Kaps
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Introduction: We investigated the burden of microembolic signals (MES) in patients with acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) and atrial fibrillation (AF), assessing their impact on functional outcomes.
Patients and methods: This multicentre international prospective cohort study involved patients with AIS and either a known or newly diagnosed anticoagulant-naïve AF. All centres utilised the same transcranial Doppler machine for 1-h monitoring with bilateral 2 MHz probes within 24 h of symptom onset. Recordings underwent MES analysis by a blinded central reader. The primary objectives were to ascertain the MES proportion and its association with functional outcomes assessed by the modified Rankin scale (mRS) score at 90 days.
Results: Between September 2019 and May 2021, we enrolled 61 patients, with a median age of 78 years (interquartile range 73-83) and a median stroke severity score of 11 (interquartile range 4-18). MES were observed in 14 patients (23%), predominantly unilateral (12/14, 86%), with a median rate of 6 counts/hour (interquartile range 4-18). MES occurrence was higher post-thrombectomy and among those with elevated brain natriuretic peptide levels (p < 0.05). A worse mRS score of 3-6 was more frequent in patients with MES, occurring in 11/14 (79%), compared to those without MES, 20/47 (43%), with an adjusted odds ratio of 5.04 (95% CI, 1.15-39.4), p = 0.04.
Conclusions: Nearly a quarter of patients with AIS and AF exhibited silent microembolization after the index event. Detecting MES within 24 h post-stroke (using transcranial Doppler) could signify a marker of poor functional outcomes. Subsequent trials will assess if very early antithrombotic treatment might enhance outcomes in this highly selective group of cardioembolic stroke patients. (Clinicaltrials.gov ID: NCT06018090).
期刊介绍:
Launched in 2016 the European Stroke Journal (ESJ) is the official journal of the European Stroke Organisation (ESO), a professional non-profit organization with over 1,400 individual members, and affiliations to numerous related national and international societies. ESJ covers clinical stroke research from all fields, including clinical trials, epidemiology, primary and secondary prevention, diagnosis, acute and post-acute management, guidelines, translation of experimental findings into clinical practice, rehabilitation, organisation of stroke care, and societal impact. It is open to authors from all relevant medical and health professions. Article types include review articles, original research, protocols, guidelines, editorials and letters to the Editor. Through ESJ, authors and researchers have gained a new platform for the rapid and professional publication of peer reviewed scientific material of the highest standards; publication in ESJ is highly competitive. The journal and its editorial team has developed excellent cooperation with sister organisations such as the World Stroke Organisation and the International Journal of Stroke, and the American Heart Organization/American Stroke Association and the journal Stroke. ESJ is fully peer-reviewed and is a member of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). Issues are published 4 times a year (March, June, September and December) and articles are published OnlineFirst prior to issue publication.