Objective:The objectives of this study were to measure the global impact of the pandemic on the volumes for intravenous thrombolysis (IVT), IVT transfers, and stroke hospitalizations over 4 months at the height of the pandemic (March 1 to June 30, 2020) compared with two control 4-month periods.Methods:We conducted a cross-sectional, observational, retrospective study across 6 continents, 70 countries, and 457 stroke centers. Diagnoses were identified by their ICD-10 codes and/or classifications in stroke databases.Results:There were 91,373 stroke admissions in the 4 months immediately before compared to 80,894 admissions during the pandemic months, representing an 11.5% (95%CI, -11.7 to - 11.3, p<0.0001) decline. There were 13,334 IVT therapies in the 4 months preceding compared to 11,570 procedures during the pandemic, representing a 13.2% (95%CI, -13.8 to -12.7, p<0.0001) drop. Interfacility IVT transfers decreased from 1,337 to 1,178, or an 11.9% decrease (95%CI, -13.7 to -10.3, p=0.001). Recovery of stroke hospitalization volume (9.5%, 95%CI 9.2-9.8, p<0.0001) was noted over the two later (May, June) versus the two earlier (March, April) pandemic months. There was a 1.48% stroke rate across 119,967 COVID-19 hospitalizations. SARS-CoV-2 infection was noted in 3.3% (1,722/52,026) of all stroke admissions.Conclusions:The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with a global decline in the volume of stroke hospitalizations, IVT, and interfacility IVT transfers. Primary stroke centers and centers with higher COVID19 inpatient volumes experienced steeper declines. Recovery of stroke hospitalization was noted in the later pandemic months.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic led to profound changes in the organization of health care systems worldwide. Aims: We sought to measure the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the volumes for mechanical thrombectomy (MT), stroke, and intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) hospitalizations over a 3-month period at the height of the pandemic (March 1 to May 31, 2020) compared with two control 3-month periods (immediately preceding and one year prior). Methods: Retrospective, observational, international study, across 6 continents, 40 countries, and 187 comprehensive stroke centers. The diagnoses were identified by their ICD-10 codes and/or classifications in stroke databases at participating centers. Results: The hospitalization volumes for any stroke, ICH, and MT were 26,699, 4,002, and 5,191 in the 3 months immediately before versus 21,576, 3,540, and 4,533 during the first 3 pandemic months, representing declines of 19.2% (95%CI,-19.7 to -18.7), 11.5% (95%CI,-12.6 to -10.6), and 12.7% (95%CI,-13.6 to -11.8), respectively. The decreases were noted across centers with high, mid, and low COVID-19 hospitalization burden, and also across high, mid, and low volume stroke/MT centers. High-volume COVID-19 centers (-20.5%) had greater declines in MT volumes than mid- (-10.1%) and low-volume (-8.7%) centers (p<0.0001). There was a 1.5% stroke rate across 54,366 COVID-19 hospitalizations. SARS-CoV-2 infection was noted in 3.9% (784/20,250) of all stroke admissions. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with a global decline in the volume of overall stroke hospitalizations, MT procedures, and ICH admission volumes. Despite geographic variations, these volume reductions were observed regardless of COVID-19 hospitalization burden and pre-pandemic stroke/MT volumes.

Background and Objective: Endovascular treatment (EVT) is proven to be safe and effective for treating acute large vessel occlusion stroke (LVOS). The neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) reflects systemic inflammation, which plays an important role in the process of treating ischemic stroke. This study aims to explore the relationship between NLR and the clinical outcomes of LVOS patients undergoing EVT. Methods: Patients were selected from the EVT for acUte Anterior circuLation (ACTUAL) ischemic stroke registry. The laboratory data (neutrophil count, lymphocyte count) before EVT were collected. Poor functional outcome was defined as modified Rankin Scale (mRS) of 3–6 at 3 months. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to explore the relationship of NLR with functional outcome, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH), and mortality. Results: We eventually included 616 patients (median of age, 66 years; 40.3% female). There were 350 (56.7%) patients achieving mRS of 3–6 at 3 months, 98 (15.9%) patients with sICH, and the mortality at 3 months was 24.8% (153/616). Baseline NLR was independently associated with poor functional outcome (OR 1.58; 95% CI 1.02–2.45; p = 0.039) and sICH (OR 1.84; 95% CI 1.09–3.11; p = 0.023) but showed a trend for predicting 3-month mortality (OR 1.57; 95% CI 0.94–2.65; p = 0.088). Conclusions: NLR independently predicts 3-month functional outcome and sICH but the existence of a trend association with mortality after EVT for acute anterior circulation LVOS patients.

RESCUE BT Trial Investigators E ndovascular treatment has been shown to significantly increase the reperfusion rate and improve the functional outcomes of patients with acute ischemic stroke due to large vessel occlusion. [1][2][3][4] However, endovascular thrombectomy has historically failed to yield successful reperfusion in approximately 30% of patients. 5 Unsuccessful reperfusion likely arises in part from mechanical thrombectomy devices causing traumatic damage to the vascular endothelium with subendothelial matrix exposure, leading to platelet activation, adhesion, and aggregation and potentially resulting in reocclusion and thromboembolic complications. 6,7 Tirofiban, a highly selective nonpeptide platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor with a relatively short half-life that can reversibly prevent platelet aggregation, has been proven to reduce the risk of thrombotic complications during percutaneous coronary intervention. [8][9][10] Given the benefit of treatment of acute coronary syndromes, a growing number of studies have evaluated tirofiban as an adjunctive treatment in patients with large vessel occlusion ischemic stroke IMPORTANCE Tirofiban is a highly selective nonpeptide antagonist of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor, which reversibly inhibits platelet aggregation. It remains uncertain whether intravenous tirofiban is effective to improve functional outcomes for patients with large vessel occlusion ischemic stroke undergoing endovascular thrombectomy.OBJECTIVE To assess the efficacy and adverse events of intravenous tirofiban before endovascular thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke secondary to large vessel occlusion.DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This investigator-initiated, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was implemented at 55 hospitals in China, enrolling 948 patients with stroke and proximal intracranial large vessel occlusion presenting within 24 hours of time last known well.