RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Arterial Occlusion Revealed by CT Angiography Predicts NIH Stroke Score and Acute Outcomes after IV tPA Treatment
JF American Journal of Neuroradiology
JO Am. J. Neuroradiol.
FD American Society of Neuroradiology
SP 246
OP 251
VO 26
IS 2
A1 Sims, John R.
A1 Rordorf, Guy
A1 Smith, Eric E.
A1 Koroshetz, Walter J.
A1 Lev, Michael H.
A1 Buonanno, Ferdinando
A1 Schwamm, Lee H.
YR 2005
UL http://www.ajnr.org/content/26/2/246.abstract
AB BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The relationship between location of occlusion and clinical outcome is poorly understood in patients receiving intravenous tissue-type plasminogen activator (IV tPA). We postulated that acute stroke patients receiving IV tPA with patent vasculature or occult arterial occlusion by CT angiography (CTA) would have better outcomes and decreased hemorrhagic risk.METHODS: We identified 47 patients from our prospective stroke database who underwent CTA before treatment with IV tPA. Site of occlusion was categorized as M1 segment of the middle cerebral artery, M2 segment, multiple (either carotid, basilar, or both middle and anterior cerebral arteries), or absent (no occlusion proximal to M3). The effect of site of occlusion on National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), early improvement (≥ 4-point improvement in NIHSS at 24 hours after treatment), intracranial hemorrhages, and modified Rankin scale (mRS) at 7 days was tested in a multivariate analysis.RESULTS: The location of occlusion correlated with initial NIHSS for multiple, M1, M2 and absent occlusions (median NIHSS scores were 18, 18, 15, 10, respectively) (P < .02, rank sum). Following adjustment for initial NIHSS, age, and time to treatment, the absence of occlusion remained associated with early improvement (OR 5.0, 95% CI 1.1–23.3; P = .04) and independence at day 7 (mRS ≤ 2) (OR 6.8, 95% CI 1.3–34.6; P = .02). Overall prevalence of symptomatic hemorrhages was 6.4%. Patients without occlusion had no hemorrhages (0% versus 23.3%; P < .04).CONCLUSION: Among patients treated with tPA, those with patent vasculature or occult distal occlusion on CTA before treatment have lower NIHSS, better chances of early improvement and early independence with fewer hemorrhages.