BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:The extent of pial collateral formation during acute ischemic stroke has been shown to influence outcomes. This study examines whether angiographic assessment of pial collateral formation is predictive of hemorrhagic transformation following intra-arterial thrombolysis (IAT) for acute ischemic stroke.

Background and Purpose-This study defines significant thrombolysis associated intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) by identifying an objective threshold volume that predicts clinical deterioration attributable to ICH. Methods-Prospectively collected clinical and radiographic information, from 103 consecutive patients who underwent intraarterial thrombolysis for acute ischemic stroke, was reviewed. Multiple paired comparisons between stratified hematoma volume and change in National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score by 24 to 36 hours and by time of hospital discharge was used to identify significant differences. Associations between hemorrhage volume and infarct volume in relation to clinical outcomes were examined. Rates of hemorrhagic transformation (HT), symptomatic hemorrhage, and parenchymal hematoma involving over 30% of the infarct were compared with hemorrhage volume. Multivariate regression analysis was used to determine the relationship between change in discharge NIHSS score and hemorrhage volume adjusting for known predictors of clinical outcomes. Results-Multiple paired comparisons indicate that hemorrhage greater than 25 mL (HV25) had a more distinct impact on NIHSS score by time of hospital discharge than at 24 to 36 hours. Twenty-seven (26.2%) patients had HT and 12 (11.7%) had HV25. Among symptomatic hemorrhage, parenchymal hematoma involving over 30% of the infarct, and HV25, HV25 appeared more reflective of clinical deterioration from ICH. Hemorrhage volume increased with infarct volume but they were independently associated with change in NIHSS score on regression analysis. Conclusion-Clinical deterioration from ICH and ischemic injury are more effectively distinguished at time of hospital discharge. The authors propose to define significant hemorrhage associated with thrombolysis as hemorrhage volume greater than 25 mL.

This work presents a unique single center experience with intra-arterial delivery of tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) doses as high as 100mg for thrombolysis. Hemorrhage volumes, hemorrhage rates, clinical outcomes and radiographic outcomes were assessed. Prospectively collected angiographic, clinical and laboratory information on 67 consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke involving either the m1 segment of the middle cerebral artery, the intracranial internal carotid artery or the basilar artery were retrospectively analyzed. Patients who received more than 50 mg t-PA were compared with those patients receiving 50 mg or less. Outcome measures included: symptomatic hemorrhage, significant hemorrhage volume (greater than 25 ml), hemorrhage rate, change in National Institutes of Health stroke scale score at 24 hours and at hospital discharge, modified Rankin score at 90 days, in-hospital deaths, death within 90 days, reperfusion rate, and infarct volume. Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that t-PA dose over 50 mg was associated with higher rates of hemorrhage and larger hemorrhages. Poor pial collateral formation, poor reperfusion (less than 50% of the territory involved), and platelet count below 200 K/μL influenced hemorrhage. Limiting t-PA dose to 100mg rather than 50mg improved documented reperfusion rates from 37% to 61%. Restricting intra-arterial t-PA administration to 100mg rather than 50mg, is associated with higher overall reperfusion rates and improves overall outcomes, however, the hemorrhage rate is also elevated. Poor pial collateral formation and platelet count less than 200 K/μL may be reasons to curtail the use of higher t-PA dose to reduce hemorrhage rate.

BACKGROUND Xanthomatous lesions of the pituitary have been linked to ruptured or hemorrhagic Rathke’s cleft cysts. Most cases are reported to resolve following radical resection. When recurrence does occur, there is no established treatment regimen. High-dose glucocorticoids have been reported to be beneficial in several published cases; however, their effects are often not sustained once therapy is discontinued. OBSERVATIONS The authors report the case of an adolescent male who developed recurrent xanthogranulomatous hypophysitis associated with a Rathke’s cleft cyst despite two surgical interventions. He was treated with a short course of dexamethasone followed by a maintenance course of celecoxib and mycophenolate mofetil. This regimen proved to be safe and well-tolerated, and it successfully prevented another recurrence of his xanthogranulomatous hypophysitis. LESSONS This case demonstrates a novel nonsurgical approach to the management of recurrent xanthogranulomatous hypophysitis. It suggests a potential application of a combined corticosteroid-sparing immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory regimen in other cases of refractory xanthogranulomatous hypophysitis.

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Background Pial arterioles can provide a variable degree of collateral flow to ischemic vascular territories during acute ischemic stroke. This study sought to identify predictive factors of the degree of pial collateral recruitment in acute ischemic stroke. Methods Clinical information and arteriograms from 62 consecutive patients with stroke due to either middle cerebral artery (MCA) M1 segment or internal carotid artery (ICA) terminus occlusion within 6 h following symptom onset were retrospectively reviewed. Pial collaterals were defined based on the extent of reconstitution of the MCA territory. Patients with slow antegrade flow distal to the occlusion site were excluded and no anesthetics were used prior or during angiography. Results were analyzed using multivariate nominal logistic regression. Results Better pial collateral recruitment was associated with proximal MCA versus ICA terminus occlusion ( p = 0.005; odds ratio (OR) = 9.3; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.16–53.3), lower presenting National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale Score (NIHSSS) ( p = 0.023; OR = 6.51; 95% CI, 1.49–41.7), and lower diastolic blood pressure ( p = 0.0411; OR = 5.05; 95% CI, 1.20–29.2). Age, gender, symptom duration, diabetes, laterality, systolic blood pressure, glucose level, hematocrit, platelet level, and white blood cell count at presentation were not found to have a statistically significant association with pial collateral recruitment. Conclusions Extent of pial collateral recruitment is strongly associated with the occlusion site (MCA M1 segment versus ICA terminus) and less strongly associated with presenting NIHSSS and diastolic blood pressure.

Objective To identify inner and middle ear anomalies in children with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11DS) and determine associations with hearing thresholds. Study Design Retrospective study. Setting Two tertiary care academic centers. Methods Children presenting with 22q11DS between 2010 and 2020 were included. Temporal bone imaging with computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging was reviewed by 2 neuroradiologists. Results Twenty-two patients (12 female, 10 male) were identified. Forty-four ears were evaluated on imaging. There were 15 (34%) ears with abnormal semicircular canals, 14 (32%) with abnormal vestibules, 8 (18%) with abnormal ossicles, 6 (14%) with enlarged vestibular aqueducts, 4 (9.1%) with abnormal facial nerve canals, and 4 (9.1%) with cochlear anomalies. There were 25 ears with imaging and audiometric data. The median pure tone average (PTA) for ears with any structural abnormality was 41.0 dB, as compared with 28.5 dB for ears without any structural abnormality ( P = .21). Of 23 ears with normal imaging, 6 (26%) had hearing loss in comparison with 13 (62%) of 21 ears with abnormalities ( P = .02). Total number of anomalies per ear was positively correlated with PTA (Pearson correlation coefficient, R = 0.479, P = .01). PTA was significantly higher in patients with facial nerve canal anomalies ( P = .002), vestibular aqueduct anomalies ( P = .05), and vestibule anomalies ( P = .02). Conclusions Semicircular canal, ossicular, vestibular aqueduct, and vestibular anomalies were detected in children with 22q11DS, especially in the setting of hearing loss. Careful evaluation of anatomic anomalies is needed prior to surgical intervention in these patients.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:Because alteplase does not penetrate thrombus effectively, this study examined whether a method thought to maximize surface distribution of alteplase on the offending thrombus during IATT would result in greater reperfusion rates in acute ischemic stroke.