Medicine (Austin & Northern Health) - Research Publications

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    Prevalence and Significance of Impaired Microvascular Tissue Reperfusion Despite Macrovascular Angiographic Reperfusion (No-Reflow)
    Ng, FC ; Churilov, L ; Yassi, N ; Kleinig, TJ ; Thijs, V ; Wu, T ; Shah, D ; Dewey, H ; Sharma, G ; Desmond, P ; Yan, B ; Parsons, M ; Donnan, G ; Davis, S ; Mitchell, P ; Campbell, B (LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS, 2022-02-22)
    BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The relevance of impaired microvascular tissue-level reperfusion despite complete upstream macrovascular angiographic reperfusion (no-reflow) in human stroke remains controversial. We investigated the prevalence and clinical-radiologic features of this phenomenon and its associations with outcomes in 3 international randomized controlled thrombectomy trials with prespecified follow-up perfusion imaging. METHODS: In a pooled analysis of the Extending the Time for Thrombolysis in Emergency Neurological Deficits-Intra-Arterial (EXTEND-IA; ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01492725), Tenecteplase Versus Alteplase Before Endovascular Therapy for Ischemic Stroke (EXTEND-IA TNK; NCT02388061), and Determining the Optimal Dose of Tenecteplase Before Endovascular Therapy for Ischaemic Stroke (EXTEND-IA TNK Part 2; NCT03340493) trials, patients undergoing thrombectomy with final angiographic expanded Treatment in Cerebral Infarction score of 2c to 3 score for anterior circulation large vessel occlusion and 24-hour follow-up CT or MRI perfusion imaging were included. No-reflow was defined as regions of visually demonstrable persistent hypoperfusion on relative cerebral blood volume or flow maps within the infarct and verified quantitatively by >15% asymmetry compared to a mirror homolog in the absence of carotid stenosis or reocclusion. RESULTS: Regions of no-reflow were identified in 33 of 130 patients (25.3%), encompassed a median of 60.2% (interquartile range 47.8%-70.7%) of the infarct volume, and involved both subcortical (n = 26 of 33, 78.8%) and cortical (n = 10 of 33, 30.3%) regions. Patients with no-reflow had a median 25.2% (interquartile range 16.4%-32.2%, p < 0.00001) relative cerebral blood volume interside reduction and 19.1% (interquartile range 3.9%-28.3%, p = 0.00011) relative cerebral blood flow reduction but similar mean transit time (median -3.3%, interquartile range -11.9% to 24.4%, p = 0.24) within the infarcted region. Baseline characteristics were similar between patients with and those without no-reflow. The presence of no-reflow was associated with hemorrhagic transformation (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.79, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.32-15.57, p = 0.0002), greater infarct growth (β = 11.00, 95% CI 5.22-16.78, p = 0.00027), reduced NIH Stroke Scale score improvement at 24 hours (β = -4.06, 95% CI 6.78-1.34, p = 0.004) and being dependent or dead at 90 days as assessed by the modified Rankin Scale (aOR 3.72, 95% CI 1.35-10.20, p = 0.011) in multivariable analysis. DISCUSSION: Cerebral no-reflow in humans is common, can be detected by its characteristic perfusion imaging profile using readily available sequences in the clinical setting, and is associated with posttreatment complications and being dependent or dead. Further studies evaluating the role of no-reflow in secondary injury after angiographic reperfusion are warranted. CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE: This study provides Class II evidence that cerebral no-reflow on CT/MRI perfusion imaging at 24 hours is associated with posttreatment complications and poor 3-month functional outcome.
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    Endovascular Thrombectomy Versus Medical Management in Isolated M2 Occlusions: Pooled Patient-Level Analysis from the EXTEND-IA Trials, INSPIRE, and SELECT Studies
    Sarraj, A ; Parsons, M ; Bivard, A ; Hassan, AE ; Abraham, MG ; Wu, T ; Kleinig, T ; Lin, L ; Chen, C ; Levi, C ; Dong, Q ; Cheng, X ; Butcher, KS ; Choi, P ; Yassi, N ; Shah, D ; Sharma, G ; Pujara, D ; Shaker, F ; Blackburn, S ; Dewey, H ; Thijs, V ; Sitton, CW ; Donnan, GA ; Mitchell, PJ ; Yan, B ; Grotta, JG ; Albers, GW ; Davis, SM ; Campbell, B (WILEY, 2022-05)
    OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate functional and safety outcomes of endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) versus medical management (MM) in patients with M2 occlusion and examine their association with perfusion imaging mismatch and stroke severity. METHODS: In a pooled, patient-level analysis of 3 randomized controlled trials (EXTEND-IA, EXTEND-and IA-TNK parts 1 and 2) and 2 prospective nonrandomized studies (INSPIRE and SELECT), we evaluated EVT association with 90-day functional independence (modified Rankin Scale [mRS] = 0-2) in isolated M2 occlusions as compared to medical management overall and in subgroups by mismatch profile status and stroke severity. RESULTS: We included 517 patients (EVT = 195 and MM = 322), baseline median (interquartile range [IQR]) National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) was 13 (8-19) in EVT versus 10 (6-15) in MM, p < 0.001. Pretreatment ischemic core did not differ (EVT = 10 [0-24] ml vs MM = 9 [3-21] ml, p = 0.59). Compared to MM, EVT was more frequently associated with functional independence (68.3 vs 61.6%, adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.42, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.25-4.67, p = 0.008, inverse probability of treatment weights [IPTW]-OR = 1.75, 95% CI = 1.00-3.75, p = 0.05) with a shift toward better mRS outcomes (adjusted cOR = 2.02, 95% CI:1.23-3.29, p = 0.005), and lower mortality (5 vs 10%, aOR = 0.32, 95% CI = 0.12-0.87, p = 0.025). EVT was associated with higher functional independence in patients with a perfusion mismatch profile (EVT = 70.7% vs MM = 61.3%, aOR = 2.29, 95% CI = 1.09-4.79, p = 0.029, IPTW-OR = 2.02, 1.08-3.78, p = 0.029), whereas no difference was found in those without mismatch (EVT = 43.8% vs MM = 62.7%, p = 0.17, IPTW-OR: 0.71, 95% CI = 0.18-2.78, p = 0.62). Functional independence was more frequent with EVT in patients with moderate or severe strokes, as defined by baseline NIHSS above any thresholds from 6 to 10, whereas there was no difference between groups with milder strokes below these thresholds. INTERPRETATION: In patients with M2 occlusion, EVT was associated with improved clinical outcomes when compared to MM. This association was primarily observed in patients with a mismatch profile and those with higher stroke severity. ANN NEUROL 2022;91:629-639.
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    Healthy Life-Year Costs of Treatment Speed From Arrival to Endovascular Thrombectomy in Patients With Ischemic Stroke A Meta-analysis of Individual Patient Data From 7 Randomized Clinical Trials
    Almekhlafi, MA ; Goyal, M ; Dippel, DWJ ; Majoie, CBLM ; Campbell, BCV ; Muir, KW ; Demchuk, AM ; Bracard, S ; Guillemin, F ; Jovin, TG ; Mitchell, P ; White, P ; Hill, MD ; Brown, S ; Saver, JL (AMER MEDICAL ASSOC, 2021-06)
    IMPORTANCE: The benefits of endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) are time dependent. Prior studies may have underestimated the time-benefit association because time of onset is imprecisely known. OBJECTIVE: To assess the lifetime outcomes associated with speed of endovascular thrombectomy in patients with acute ischemic stroke due to large-vessel occlusion (LVO). DATA SOURCES: PubMed was searched for randomized clinical trials of stent retriever thrombectomy devices vs medical therapy in patients with anterior circulation LVO within 12 hours of last known well time, and for which a peer-reviewed, complete primary results article was published by August 1, 2020. STUDY SELECTION: All randomized clinical trials of stent retriever thrombectomy devices vs medical therapy in patients with anterior circulation LVO within 12 hours of last known well time were included. DATA EXTRACTION/SYNTHESIS: Patient-level data regarding presenting clinical and imaging features and functional outcomes were pooled from the 7 retrieved randomized clinical trials of stent retriever thrombectomy devices (entirely or predominantly) vs medical therapy. All 7 identified trials published in a peer-reviewed journal (by August 1, 2020) contributed data. Detailed time metrics were collected including last known well-to-door (LKWTD) time; last known well/onset-to-puncture (LKWTP) time; last known well-to-reperfusion (LKWR) time; door-to-puncture (DTP) time; and door-to-reperfusion (DTR) time. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Change in healthy life-years measured as disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs). DALYs were calculated as the sum of years of life lost (YLL) owing to premature mortality and years of healthy life lost because of disability (YLD). Disability weights were assigned using the utility-weighted modified Rankin Scale. Age-specific life expectancies without stroke were calculated from 2017 US National Vital Statistics. RESULTS: Among the 781 EVT-treated patients, 406 (52.0%) were early-treated (LKWTP ≤4 hours) and 375 (48.0%) were late-treated (LKWTP >4-12 hours). In early-treated patients, LKWTD was 188 minutes (interquartile range, 151.3-214.8 minutes) and DTP 105 minutes (interquartile range, 76-135 minutes). Among the 298 of 380 (78.4%) patients with substantial reperfusion, median DTR time was 145.0 minutes (interquartile range, 111.5-185.5 minutes). Care process delays were associated with worse clinical outcomes in LKW-to-intervention intervals in early-treated patients and in door-to-intervention intervals in early-treated and late-treated patients, and not associated with LKWTD intervals, eg, in early-treated patients, for each 10-minute delay, healthy life-years lost were DTP 1.8 months vs LKWTD 0.0 months; P < .001. Considering granular time increments, the amount of healthy life-time lost associated with each 1 second of delay was DTP 2.2 hours and DTR 2.4 hours. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In this study, care delays were associated with loss of healthy life-years in patients with acute ischemic stroke treated with EVT, particularly in the postarrival time period. The finding that every 1 second of delay was associated with loss of 2.2 hours of healthy life may encourage continuous quality improvement in door-to-treatment times.
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    Tenecteplase versus Alteplase for Stroke Thrombolysis Evaluation Trial in the Ambulance (Mobile Stroke Unit-TASTE-A): protocol for a prospective randomised, open-label, blinded endpoint, phase II superiority trial of tenecteplase versus alteplase for ischaemic stroke patients presenting within 4.5 hours of symptom onset to the mobile stroke unit
    Bivard, A ; Zhao, H ; Coote, S ; Campbell, B ; Churilov, L ; Yassi, N ; Yan, B ; Valente, M ; Sharobeam, A ; Balabanski, A ; Dos Santos, A ; Ng, F ; Langenberg, F ; Stephenson, M ; Smith, K ; Bernard, S ; Thijs, V ; Cloud, G ; Choi, P ; Ma, H ; Wijeratne, T ; Chen, C ; Olenko, L ; Davis, SM ; Donnan, GA ; Parsons, M (BMJ PUBLISHING GROUP, 2022-04)
    INTRODUCTION: Mobile stroke units (MSUs) equipped with a CT scanner are increasingly being used to assess and treat stroke patients' prehospital with thrombolysis and transfer them to the most appropriate hospital for ongoing stroke care and thrombectomy when indicated. The effect of MSUs in both reducing the time to reperfusion treatment and improving patient outcomes is now established. There is now an opportunity to improve the efficacy of treatment provided by the MSU. Tenecteplase is a potent plasminogen activator, which may have benefits over the standard of care stroke lytic alteplase. Specifically, in the MSU environment tenecteplase presents practical benefits since it is given as a single bolus and does not require an infusion over an hour like alteplase. OBJECTIVE: In this trial, we seek to investigate if tenecteplase, given to patients with acute ischaemic stroke as diagnosed on the MSU, improves the rate of early reperfusion. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: TASTE-A is a prospective, randomised, open-label, blinded endpoint (PROBE) phase II trial of patients who had an ischaemic stroke assessed in an MSU within 4.5 hours of symptom onset. The primary endpoint is early reperfusion measured by the post-lysis volume of the CT perfusion lesion performed immediately after hospital arrival. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study was approved by the Royal Melbourne Hospital Human Ethics committee. The findings will be published in peer-reviewed journals, presented at academic conferences and disseminated among consumer and healthcare professional audiences. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT04071613.
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    The Incidence of Stroke in Indigenous Populations of Countries With a Very High Human Development Index: A Systematic Review Protocol
    Balabanski, AH ; Dos Santos, A ; Woods, JA ; Thrift, AG ; Kleinig, TJ ; Suchy-Dicey, A ; Siri, SR ; Boden-Albala, B ; Krishnamurthi, R ; Feigin, VL ; Buchwald, D ; Ranta, A ; Mienna, CS ; Zavaleta, C ; Churilov, L ; Burchill, L ; Zion, D ; Longstreth, WT ; Tirschwell, DL ; Anand, S ; Parsons, MW ; Brown, A ; Warne, DK ; Harwood, M ; Katzenellenbogen, JM (FRONTIERS MEDIA SA, 2021-04-22)
    Background and Aims: Despite known Indigenous health and socioeconomic disadvantage in countries with a Very High Human Development Index, data on the incidence of stroke in these populations are sparse. With oversight from an Indigenous Advisory Board, we will undertake a systematic review of the incidence of stroke in Indigenous populations of developed countries or regions, with comparisons between Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations of the same region, though not between different Indigenous populations. Methods: Using PubMed, OVID-EMBASE, and Global Health databases, we will examine population-based incidence studies of stroke in Indigenous adult populations of developed countries published 1990-current, without language restriction. Non-peer-reviewed sources, studies including <10 Indigenous People, or with insufficient data to determine incidence, will be excluded. Two reviewers will independently validate the search strategies, screen titles and abstracts, and record reasons for rejection. Relevant articles will undergo full-text screening, with standard data extracted for all studies included. Quality assessment will include Sudlow and Warlow's criteria for population-based stroke incidence studies, the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for risk of bias, and the CONSIDER checklist for Indigenous research. Results: Primary outcomes include crude, age-specific and/or age-standardized incidence of stroke. Secondary outcomes include overall stroke rates, incidence rate ratio and case-fatality. Results will be synthesized in figures and tables, describing data sources, populations, methodology, and findings. Within-population meta-analysis will be performed if, and where, methodologically sound and comparable studies allow this. Conclusion: We will undertake the first systematic review assessing disparities in stroke incidence in Indigenous populations of developed countries. Data outputs will be disseminated to relevant Indigenous stakeholders to inform public health and policy research.
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    Tenecteplase (and common sense) in short supply during the COVID-19 pandemic
    Parsons, M ; Churilov, L ; Schutte, AE ; Levi, C (WILEY, 2020-11)
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    Patterns of Infarction on MRI in Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke and Cardio-Embolism: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
    Sharobeam, A ; Churilov, L ; Parsons, M ; Donnan, GA ; Davis, SM ; Yan, B (FRONTIERS MEDIA SA, 2020-12-08)
    Background: Cardioembolic strokes are common however atrial fibrillation, the most common cause, is often asymptomatic and difficult to detect. There is evidence that infarct topography and volume on magnetic resonance imaging may be associated with specific stroke etiologies. Aim: A systematic review and meta-analysis were undertaken to summarize the available evidence on the association between stroke etiology, infarct topography, and volume. Methods: A systematic review was conducted using Medline (OVID), Embase (OVID), and PubMed databases. Hand searches of the gray literature and of reference lists in relevant articles were also performed. A quality assessment was undertaken, based on the STROBE checklist. For each study, the number of patients with and without a CE source of stroke and infarct topography was collected and outcomes presented as odds ratios (OR) with 95% CI and p-values. Results: Four thousand eight hundred and seventy-three patients with ischemic stroke were included, of whom 1,559 were determined to have a CE source. Bilateral infarcts (OR 3.41; 95% CI 2.20-5.29; p < 0.0001) and multiple territory infarcts (OR 1.57; 95% CI 1.12-2.21; p = 0.009) were more common in patients with a CE source of stroke, than patients without a CE source. Lacunar infarcts (OR 0.49; 95% CI 0.31-0.80; p = 0.004) were more likely to occur in patients without a CE source. No significant difference between the frequency of multiple infarcts (OR 0.96; 95% CI 0.57-1.61; p = 0.87) anterior circulation (OR 1.45; 95% CI 0.83-2.53; p = 0.19) or posterior circulation infarcts (OR 1.06; 95% CI 0.72-1.57; p = 0.75), between the two groups were identified. Three out of four studies examining volume, found a significant association between increased infarct volume and CE source of stroke. A sensitivity analysis with cryptogenic and undetermined stroke sources assumed to be cardioembolic, did not alter the associations observed. Conclusion: The findings of this systematic review and meta-analysis are broadly consistent with previous literature and provide more robust evidence on the association between infarct topography, volume and stroke etiology. Our findings may assist with refining cardiac investigations for patients with cryptogenic stroke, based on infarct topography.
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    Permeability Measures Predict Hemorrhagic Transformation after Ischemic Stroke
    Bivard, A ; Kleinig, T ; Churilov, L ; Levi, C ; Lin, L ; Cheng, X ; Chen, C ; Aviv, R ; Choi, PMC ; Spratt, NJ ; Butcher, K ; Dong, Q ; Parsons, M (WILEY, 2020-09)
    Objective We sought to examine the diagnostic utility of existing predictors of any hemorrhagic transformation (HT) and compare them with new perfusion imaging permeability measures in ischemic stroke patients receiving alteplase only. Methods A pixel‐based analysis of pretreatment CT perfusion (CTP) was undertaken to define the optimal CTP permeability thresholds to predict the likelihood of HT. We then compared previously proposed predictors of HT using regression analyses and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis to produce an area under the curve (AUC). We compared AUCs using χ2 analysis. Results From 5 centers, 1,407 patients were included in this study; of these, 282 had HT. The cohort was split into a derivation cohort (1,025, 70% patients) and a validation cohort (382 patients or 30%). The extraction fraction (E) permeability map at a threshold of 30% relative to contralateral had the highest AUC at predicting any HT (derivation AUC 0.85, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.79–0.91; validation AUC 0.84, 95% CI 0.77–0.91). The AUC improved when permeability was assessed within the acute perfusion lesion for the E maps at a threshold of 30% (derivation AUC 0.91, 95% CI 0.86–0.95; validation AUC 0.89, 95% CI 0.86–0.95). Previously proposed associations with HT and parenchymal hematoma showed lower AUC values than the permeability measure. Interpretation In this large multicenter study, we have validated a highly accurate measure of HT prediction. This measure might be useful in clinical practice to predict hemorrhagic transformation in ischemic stroke patients before receiving alteplase alone.