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Further work is required to determine which signs are most reliably detected, whether scoring systems help to improve detection, and whether any early infarction sign should influence decisions concerning thrombolysis.

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Background and Purpose-Transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) are warning signs of stroke. Recently, the hypothesis was raised that TIA bears a significant risk for death and dependence and requires the same complex diagnostic workup as a complete stroke. Methods-We prospectively collected pre-and in-hospital procedures, symptoms, outcome, complications, and therapies from a representative sample of all stroke-treating hospitals (nϭ82) in southwest Germany. Follow-up was attempted 6 months after discharge. End points were death or dependence in activities of daily living (Barthel Index Ͻ95, modified Rankin Scale (mRS) of 3 to 6, or institutionalization in a nursing home). Results-1380 TIA patients and 3855 stroke patients entered the database. During hospital stay, stroke incidence was 8%for TIA patients and another 5% within the first half-year. Similarly, for ischemic stroke (IS) patients these figures were 7% and 6% (PϾ0.05), respectively. Two percent of TIA patients died in hospital (5% afterward) compared with 9% of stroke patients (10% afterward, PϽ0.001). Seventeen percent TIA compared with 38% IS patients (PϽ0.05) were dependent at follow-up. Whereas an estimated preexisting deficit (mRS Ͼ2) was the strongest predictor for death or disability (baseline mRS odds ratio, 4.1; 95% CI, 2.3 to 7.2), admission to a stroke unit was a valid predictor for survival and independence (odds ratio, 0.4; 95% CI, 0.2 to 0.9). Conclusions-These data from a large, multicenter, nonselected, observational study underscore the "not so benign" prognosis for TIA patients. There is a relevant individual risk of early stroke, death, or disability in TIA patients. Management and treatment strategies are similar for both TIA and acute stroke.

This prospective, multicenter, single-arm, open-label Phase III study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Privigen® (10% liquid human intravenous immunoglobulin [IVIG], stabilized with l-proline) in patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). Patients received one induction dose of Privigen (2 g/kg body weight [bw]) and up to seven maintenance doses (1 g/kg bw) at 3-week intervals. The primary efficacy endpoint was the responder rate at completion, defined as improvement of ≥1 point on the adjusted Inflammatory Neuropathy Cause and Treatment (INCAT) disability scale. The preset success criterion was the responder rate being ≥35%. Of the 31 screened patients, 28 patients were enrolled including 13 (46.4%) IVIG-pretreated patients. The overall responder rate at completion was 60.7% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 42.41%–76.43%). IVIG-pretreated patients demonstrated a higher responder rate than IVIG-naïve patients (76.9% vs. 46.7%). The median (25%–75% quantile) INCAT score improved from 3.5 (3.0–4.5) points at baseline to 2.5 (1.0–3.0) points at completion, as did the mean (standard deviation [SD]) maximum grip strength (66.7 [37.24] kPa vs. 80.9 [31.06] kPa) and the median Medical Research Council sum score (67.0 [61.5–72.0] points vs. 75.5 [71.5–79.5] points). Of 108 adverse events (AEs; 0.417 AEs per infusion), 95 AEs (88.0%) were mild or moderate in intensity and resolved by the end of study. Two serious AEs of hemolysis were reported that resolved after discontinuation of treatment. Thus, Privigen provided efficacious and well-tolerated induction and maintenance treatment in patients with CIDP.

Background and Purpose-Early CT signs of cerebral ischemia are subtle. Little is known of which factors influence the detection of infarct signs. We compared neuroradiologists' scan readings with those of other specialists involved in the care of stroke patients. Methods-We used the Internet to show 63 CT scans, all acquired Ͻ6 hours after stroke and representing different patient ages, times to scanning, stroke severity, and early CT signs of ischemia to physicians involved in stroke care. They completed a structured scan interpretation proforma over the Internet. We compared the detection of early ischemic signs stratified by severity and the effect of prior stroke between different specialties. Results-Among 207 observers, neuroradiologists saw significantly more of "any early ischemic changes" than did stroke physicians, general radiologists, geriatricians, or neurologists (all PϽ0.0001), predominantly due to neuroradiologists' greater detection of "mild" hypoattenuation or swelling. Detection of "severe" hypoattenuation or swelling, and hyperattenuated arteries did not differ between specialties. Old infarcts impaired recognition of early ischemic signs. Nonneuroradiologists did not "overcall" signs. Years of scan-reading experience did not account for these differences, but neuroradiologists took, on average, 30 seconds longer to read each scan than did most other specialists (PϽ0.0001). Conclusions-Nonneuroradiologists should realize that they are unlikely to overcall signs, that old infarcts may distract them from seeing early ischemic signs, and read stroke CT scans more slowly, as these factors may help them perform more like neuroradiologists.

ObjectiveTo investigate the long-term safety and efficacy of weekly subcutaneous IgPro20 (Hizentra, CSL Behring) in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP).MethodsIn a 48-week open-label prospective extension study to the PATH study, patients were initially started on 0.2 g/kg or on 0.4 g/kg weekly and—if clinically stable—switched to 0.2 g/kg weekly after 24 weeks. Upon CIDP relapse on the 0.2 g/kg dose, 0.4 g/kg was (re)initiated. CIDP relapse was defined as a deterioration by at least 1 point in the total adjusted Inflammatory Neuropathy Cause and Treatment score.ResultsEighty-two patients were enrolled. Sixty-two patients initially received 0.4 g/kg, 20 patients 0.2 g/kg weekly. Seventy-two received both doses during the study. Sixty-six patients (81%) completed the 48-week study duration. Overall relapse rates were 10% in 0.4 g/kg–treated patients and 48% in 0.2 g/kg–treated patients. After dose reduction from 0.4 to 0.2 g/kg, 51% (27/53) of patients relapsed, of whom 92% (24 of 26) improved after reinitiation of the 0.4 g/kg dose. Two-thirds of patients (19/28) who completed the PATH study without relapse remained relapse-free on the 0.2 g/kg dose after dose reduction in the extension study. Sixty-two patients had adverse events (AEs) (76%), of which most were mild or moderate with no related serious AEs.ConclusionsSubcutaneous treatment with IgPro20 provided long-term benefit at both 0.4 and 0.2 g/kg weekly doses with lower relapse rates on the higher dose. Long-term dosing should be individualized to find the most appropriate dose in a given patient.Classification of evidenceThis study provides Class IV evidence that for patients with CIDP, long-term treatment with SCIG beyond 24 weeks is safe and efficacious.