Skip to main content
Advertisement

Main menu

  • Home
  • Content
    • Current Issue
    • Publication Preview--Ahead of Print
    • Past Issue Archive
    • Case of the Week Archive
    • Classic Case Archive
    • Case of the Month Archive
  • For Authors
  • About Us
    • About AJNR
    • Editors
    • American Society of Neuroradiology
  • Submit a Manuscript
  • Podcasts
    • Subscribe on iTunes
    • Subscribe on Stitcher
  • More
    • Subscribers
    • Permissions
    • Advertisers
    • Alerts
    • Feedback
  • Other Publications
    • ajnr

User menu

  • Subscribe
  • Alerts
  • Log in

Search

  • Advanced search
American Journal of Neuroradiology
American Journal of Neuroradiology

American Journal of Neuroradiology

  • Subscribe
  • Alerts
  • Log in

Advanced Search

  • Home
  • Content
    • Current Issue
    • Publication Preview--Ahead of Print
    • Past Issue Archive
    • Case of the Week Archive
    • Classic Case Archive
    • Case of the Month Archive
  • For Authors
  • About Us
    • About AJNR
    • Editors
    • American Society of Neuroradiology
  • Submit a Manuscript
  • Podcasts
    • Subscribe on iTunes
    • Subscribe on Stitcher
  • More
    • Subscribers
    • Permissions
    • Advertisers
    • Alerts
    • Feedback
  • Follow AJNR on Twitter
  • Visit AJNR on Facebook
  • Follow AJNR on Instagram
  • Join AJNR on LinkedIn
  • RSS Feeds
ReplyLetter

Reply:

J. Hom and M. Wintermark
American Journal of Neuroradiology June 2011, 32 (6) E125; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3174/ajnr.A2629
J. Hom
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
M. Wintermark
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • Article
  • Info & Metrics
  • References
  • PDF
Loading

We sincerely appreciate the feedback from Dr Lin and his interesting comments regarding our article entitled “Blood-Brain Barrier Permeability Assessed by Perfusion CT Predicts Symptomatic Hemorrhagic Transformation and Malignant Edema in Acute Ischemic Stroke” published in the January issue of the American Journal of Neuroradiology.1 In this article, we reported the predictive value of blood-brain barrier permeability measurements from CT perfusion scanning for complications observed in patients with acute ischemic stroke. We found that permeability measurements were 100% sensitive and 79% specific in predicting symptomatic hemorrhagic transformation and malignant edema.

As mentioned above, our primary outcome included symptomatic hemorrhagic transformation (not parenchymal hematoma type 2 [PH2]) and malignant edema, both of which were defined according to the European Cooperative Acute Stroke Study (ECASS III) criteria.2 Some of our patients, such as the one shown on the figure in the article discussed here, had a combination of hemorrhagic transformation and edema, both of which contributed to their clinical deterioration. Of note, symptomatic hemorrhagic transformation as defined by ECASS III criteria does not necessarily coincide with PH2, even if often these 2 entities overlap.

The rates of symptomatic hemorrhage in patients from the Safe Implementation of Thrombolysis in Stroke-Monitoring Study3 and ECASS III2 who received alteplase were 2.4% and 1.7%, respectively. In the pooled analysis of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), Altephase Thrombolysis for Acute Noninterventional Therapy in Ischemic Stroke (ATLANTIS) and ECASS trials, the rate of PH2 was 5.9%.4 In our study, 8 patients of 32 showed a significant clinical deterioration (a National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale [NIHSS] score increase of >4 or death). Three of these 8 (9.3% of our 32 patients) had symptomatic hemorrhagic transformation (of these, 2 received intravenous tPA while 1 received intra-arterial tPA plus treatment with the Merci retriever [Concentric Medical, Mountain View, California]). Another 3 patients (or 9.3% of our 32 patients) had malignant edema (2 received intravenous tissue plasminogen activator[tPA], while 1 received intra-arterial tPA plus treatment with the Merci retriever). Finally, there were 2 patients in our study who had significant clinical deterioration due to a non-neurologic cause—aspiration pneumonia and septicemia—without symptomatic hemorrhagic transformation or malignant edema. The 6 patients with a significant clinical deterioration (an NIHSS score increase of >4 or death) and with symptomatic hemorrhagic transformation or malignant edema were included in those with positive outcomes. Our 9.2% is just above the superior limit of the confidence interval for the rate observed in the pooled analysis of the NINDS, ATLANTIS, and ECASS trials.4

Regarding the nonzero permeability values in the normal brain parenchyma, one has to remember a very important element. Our model of blood-brain barrier permeability, as all models of brain perfusion and all models in general, is not the truth, but only a simplification of the truth. Indeed, the permeability of the blood-brain barrier is a complex phenomenon that involves selective passage of certain molecules in a specific amount and nonpassage or limited passage of other molecules. The concept of modeling the blood-brain barrier permeability is meant to simplify it to a numeric value that can be used to make clinical decisions. This simplification is justified as long as 1) the model is an accurate simplification, and 2) the model is clinically relevant. From this perspective, a recent study that compares our model of blood-brain barrier to histologic findings of permeability in rats (the criterion standard) addressed issue number 1 and indicates that our model accurately depicts global changes of the blood-brain barrier permeability in the setting of brain ischemia.5 Our current study addresses issue number 2 and suggests that our model and approach are clinically relevant.

We completely agree with Dr Lin that further confirmation of our findings in a large prospective study is required before any change to the current clinical practice guidelines is considered.

References

  1. 1.↵
    1. Hom J,
    2. Dankbaar JW,
    3. Soares BP,
    4. et al
    . Blood-brain barrier permeability assessed by perfusion CT predicts symptomatic hemorrhagic transformation and malignant edema in acute ischemic stroke. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2011;32:41–48
    Abstract/FREE Full Text
  2. 2.↵
    1. Hacke W,
    2. Kaste M,
    3. Bluhmki E,
    4. et al
    . Thrombolysis with alteplase 3 to 4.5 hours after acute ischemic stroke. N Engl J Med 2008;359:1317–29
    CrossRefPubMed
  3. 3.↵
    1. Wahlgren N,
    2. Ahmed N,
    3. Dávalos A,
    4. et al
    . Thrombolysis with alteplase for acute ischaemic stroke in the Safe Implementation of Thrombolysis in Stroke-Monitoring Study (SITS-MOST): an observational study. Lancet 2007;369:275–82
    CrossRefPubMed
  4. 4.↵
    1. Hacke W,
    2. Donnan G,
    3. Fieschi C,
    4. et al.
    for the ATLANTIS Trials Investigators; ECASS Trials Investigators; NINDS rt-PA Study Group Investigators. Association of outcome with early stroke treatment: pooled analysis of ATLANTIS, ECASS, and NINDS rt-PA stroke trials. Lancet 2004;363:768–74
    CrossRefPubMed
  5. 5.↵
    1. Hoffmann A,
    2. Bredno J,
    3. Wendland MF,
    4. et al
    . Validation of in vivo MRI blood-brain barrier permeability measurements by comparison with gold standard histology. Stroke. In press
  • Copyright © American Society of Neuroradiology
PreviousNext
Back to top

In this issue

American Journal of Neuroradiology: 32 (6)
American Journal of Neuroradiology
Vol. 32, Issue 6
1 Jun 2011
  • Table of Contents
  • Index by author
Advertisement
Print
Download PDF
Email Article

Thank you for your interest in spreading the word on American Journal of Neuroradiology.

NOTE: We only request your email address so that the person you are recommending the page to knows that you wanted them to see it, and that it is not junk mail. We do not capture any email address.

Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
Reply:
(Your Name) has sent you a message from American Journal of Neuroradiology
(Your Name) thought you would like to see the American Journal of Neuroradiology web site.
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Citation Tools
Reply:
J. Hom, M. Wintermark
American Journal of Neuroradiology Jun 2011, 32 (6) E125; DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.A2629

Citation Manager Formats

  • BibTeX
  • Bookends
  • EasyBib
  • EndNote (tagged)
  • EndNote 8 (xml)
  • Medlars
  • Mendeley
  • Papers
  • RefWorks Tagged
  • Ref Manager
  • RIS
  • Zotero
Share
Reply:
J. Hom, M. Wintermark
American Journal of Neuroradiology Jun 2011, 32 (6) E125; DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.A2629
del.icio.us logo Digg logo Reddit logo Twitter logo CiteULike logo Facebook logo Google logo Mendeley logo
  • Tweet Widget
  • Facebook Like
  • Google Plus One
Purchase

Jump to section

  • Article
    • References
  • Info & Metrics
  • References
  • PDF

Related Articles

  • Predicting Transformation to Type 2 Parenchymal Hematoma in Acute Ischemic Stroke by CT Permeability Imaging
  • Google Scholar

Cited By...

  • No citing articles found.
  • Crossref
  • Google Scholar

This article has not yet been cited by articles in journals that are participating in Crossref Cited-by Linking.

More in this TOC Section

  • COVID-19 Related Central Nervous System Vasculopathy: Beyond Vasculitis
  • Reply:
  • Diagnostic Value of “Mushroom” Morphology in Vertebral Chordoma
Show more LETTERS

Similar Articles

Advertisement

News and Updates

  • Lucien Levy Best Research Article Award
  • Thanks to our 2020 Distinguished Reviewers
  • Press Releases

Resources

  • Evidence-Based Medicine Level Guide
  • How to Participate in a Tweet Chat
  • AJNR Podcast Archive
  • Ideas for Publicizing Your Research
  • Librarian Resources
  • Terms and Conditions

Opportunities

  • Share Your Art in Perspectives
  • Get Peer Review Credit from Publons
  • Moderate a Tweet Chat

American Society of Neuroradiology

  • Neurographics
  • ASNR Annual Meeting
  • Fellowship Portal
  • Position Statements

© 2021 by the American Society of Neuroradiology | Print ISSN: 0195-6108 Online ISSN: 1936-959X

Powered by HighWire