Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology最新文献

Background and objectives: Cryptogenic strokes account for 20%-25% of all ischemic strokes. Although atrial cardiopathy markers are more prevalent in the cryptogenic embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS) subgroup than in the nonembolic stroke subgroup, the utility of individual parameters in predicting cardioembolic sources needs to be studied further. We studied the clinical, imaging, and atrial cardiopathy markers in three ischemic stroke subtypes - large artery atherosclerosis (LAA), cardioembolism (CE), and cryptogenic ESUS - and their role in predicting the source of CE.

Methods: This was a prospective observational study of ischemic stroke patients at Department of Neurology, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Trivandrum from April 2021 to December 2022. Clinical and risk factor profiles, imaging details, atrial cardiopathy marker (N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide [NT-pro-BNP]) levels, electrocardiogram (ECG) parameters (P terminal force of V1 [PTFV1], P wave duration, the PR interval), and transthoracic echo parameters (left atrial [LA] diameter and LA volume) were collected. Associations were made between clinical, imaging, and atrial cardiopathy markers and etiological subtypes.

Results: We had 255 participants (LAA- 98, CE- 41, and ESUS- 139) with a mean age of 63.53 years. Among the atrial cardiopathy markers, the most prevalent was elevated NT-pro-BNP (43.95%), followed by the ECG markers P wave duration (30.92%) and PTFV1 (28.74%), and LA diameter greater than 37 mm (24.27%) and LA volume greater than 34 ml/m2 (20.31%). Among the atrial cardiopathy markers, NT-pro-BNP and LA enlargement were strongly predictive of CE etiology, when compared to LAA. Chronic non-lacunar infarcts on imaging and elevated NT-pro-BNP showed a strong association with CE, when compared to cryptogenic strokes.

Conclusions: The atrial cardiopathy biomarker NT-pro-BNP and chronic non-lacunar infarcts can serve as useful tools for recognizing cardioembolic sources among patients with embolic strokes.

Background and objectives: In this study, we aimed to assess the long-term outcome of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE).

Methods: A retrospective analysis of outcome data of 24 patients with DRE, who had been implanted with VNS and had at least 5 years of post-surgery follow-up was performed. The seizure outcome at the latest follow-up was classified as class I-V as proposed by John C. McHugh. The cognitive, psychiatric, and behavioral outcomes were recorded using standardized tests.

Results: Mean age at the time of VNS implantation was 18.7 (6-38) years; nine (37.5%) of the patients were females. Mean duration of epilepsy was 13.6 years (range: 2.5-35 years); 18 (75%) patients had multiple (≥2) seizure types and 15 (62.5%) had daily seizures. The most common etiology was perinatal hypoxic injury (15, 62.5%). More than 50% seizure reduction (class 1 and 2) was noted in 54.2% of patients at 1 year, which increased to 75% at ≥5 years follow-up. A significantly higher number of patients with other etiologies had >50% reduction in seizures at the latest follow-up, when compared to those with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (53.3% vs. 100%, P = 0.0024). The average intelligence quotient (IQ; 71.17 ± 28.92 vs. 64.65 ± 29.61, P = 0.014) and quality of life (66.64 ± 14.63 vs. 64.65 ± 29.61, P < 0.001) scores were significantly higher in patients post-VNS implantation, when compared to their baseline scores. Furthermore, significant number of patients had improvement in psychiatric diagnosis (29.2% vs. 4.2%, P = 0.047) and behavioral problems (50% vs. 4.2%, P < 0.001) post-VNS implantation.

Conclusions: The present study shows >50% seizure reduction in 75% of patients after VNS implantation at long-term follow-up, with improvement in IQ, quality of life, psychiatric and behavioral problems.

Background and objectives: We aimed to develop a novel computed tomography angiography (CTA)-based grading system to quantify the severity of aortic arch disease and compare the detection of aortic arch atherosclerosis (AAAthero) on routinely acquired arch-to-vertex CTA against transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) among patients with cryptogenic ischemic stroke.

Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted to develop a computed tomography (CT)-based AAAthero grading system. CTA was compared against TEE for detecting AAAthero. The severity of arch atherosclerosis was scored based on a 5-point grading system. Patients with cryptogenic stroke who underwent both CTA and TEE were included in the derivation cohort to assess the sensitivity and specificity of CTA compared to TEE. The CT-based grading system for aortic plaques was then applied to an independent cohort of patients with cryptogenic stroke.

Results: Three studies were identified in a systematic review, and 141 patients were included in the derivation cohort. AAAthero was detected in 29 patients (20.6%) and 28 patients (19.9%) on TEE and CTA, respectively. The sensitivity of CTA to detect any atherosclerosis was 76%, which increased to 100% to detect moderate to severe disease. The specificity was 95% for any atherosclerosis and 100% for moderate to severe arch disease. Seven patients with AAAthero on TEE had normal CTA, but mild arch disease. Meanwhile, six patients with CTA and negative TEE had plaques on the arch's transverse segment.

Conclusions: Routinely acquired arch-to-vertex CTA provides an accurate, noninvasive alternative to TEE for detecting AAAthero, especially in clinically relevant moderate to severe arch disease.