ORCID Profile
0000-0003-4845-2279
Current Organisations
Institute of Education
,
University of Cape Town
,
University of Johannesburg
,
University of Kent
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Publisher: Wiley
Date: 02-01-2018
DOI: 10.1111/DAR.12650
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 04-2020
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 09-06-2020
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 18-01-2019
DOI: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000006959
Abstract: To assess the added diagnostic value of semiquantitative imaging markers on noncontrast CT scans in cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT). In a retrospective, multicenter, blinded, case-control study of patients with recent onset ( weeks) CVT, 3 readers assessed (1) the accuracy of the visual impression of CVT based on a combination of direct and indirect signs, (2) the accuracy of attenuation values of the venous sinuses in Hounsfield units (with adjustment for hematocrit levels), and (3) the accuracy of attenuation ratios of affected vs unaffected sinuses in comparison with reference standard MRI or CT angiography. Controls were age-matched patients with (sub)acute neurologic presentations. We enrolled 285 patients with CVT and 303 controls from 10 international centers. Sensitivity of visual impression of thrombosis ranged from 41% to 73% and specificity ranged from 97% to 100%. Attenuation measurement had an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.78 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.74–0.81). After adjustment for hematocrit, the AUC remained 0.78 (95% CI 0.74–0.81). The analysis of attenuation ratios of affected vs unaffected sinuses had AUC of 0.83 (95% CI 0.8–0.86). Adding this imaging marker significantly improved discrimination, but sensitivity when tolerating a false-positive rate of 20% was not higher than 76% (95% CI 0.70–0.81). Semiquantitative analysis of attenuation values for diagnosis of CVT increased sensitivity but still failed to identify 1 out of 4 CVT. This study provides Class II evidence that visual analysis of plain CT with or without attenuation measurements has high specificity but only moderate sensitivity for CVT.
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 26-02-2019
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 2015
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 16-01-2019
DOI: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000006851
Abstract: To explore genetic and lifestyle risk factors of MRI-defined brain infarcts (BI) in large population-based cohorts. We performed meta-analyses of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and examined associations of vascular risk factors and their genetic risk scores (GRS) with MRI-defined BI and a subset of BI, namely, small subcortical BI (SSBI), in 18 population-based cohorts (n = 20,949) from 5 ethnicities (3,726 with BI, 2,021 with SSBI). Top loci were followed up in 7 population-based cohorts (n = 6,862 1,483 with BI, 630 with SBBI), and we tested associations with related phenotypes including ischemic stroke and pathologically defined BI. The mean prevalence was 17.7% for BI and 10.5% for SSBI, steeply rising after age 65. Two loci showed genome-wide significant association with BI: FBN2, p = 1.77 × 10 −8 and LINC00539/ZDHHC20, p = 5.82 × 10 −9 . Both have been associated with blood pressure (BP)–related phenotypes, but did not replicate in the smaller follow-up s le or show associations with related phenotypes. Age- and sex-adjusted associations with BI and SSBI were observed for BP traits ( p value for BI, p [BI] = 9.38 × 10 −25 p [SSBI] = 5.23 × 10 −14 for hypertension), smoking ( p [BI] = 4.4 × 10 −10 p [SSBI] = 1.2 × 10 −4 ), diabetes ( p [BI] = 1.7 × 10 −8 p [SSBI] = 2.8 × 10 −3 ), previous cardiovascular disease ( p [BI] = 1.0 × 10 −18 p [SSBI] = 2.3 × 10 −7 ), stroke ( p [BI] = 3.9 × 10 −69 p [SSBI] = 3.2 × 10 −24 ), and MRI-defined white matter hyperintensity burden ( p [BI] = 1.43 × 10 −157 p [SSBI] = 3.16 × 10 −106 ), but not with body mass index or cholesterol. GRS of BP traits were associated with BI and SSBI ( p ≤ 0.0022), without indication of directional pleiotropy. In this multiethnic GWAS meta-analysis, including over 20,000 population-based participants, we identified genetic risk loci for BI requiring validation once additional large datasets become available. High BP, including genetically determined, was the most significant modifiable, causal risk factor for BI.
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 26-07-2017
DOI: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000004259
Abstract: We evaluated recurrent intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) risk in ICH survivors, stratified by the presence, distribution, and number of cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) on MRI (i.e., the presumed causal underlying small vessel disease and its severity). This was a meta-analysis of prospective cohorts following ICH, with blood-sensitive brain MRI soon after ICH. We estimated annualized recurrent symptomatic ICH rates for each study and compared pooled odds ratios (ORs) of recurrent ICH by CMB presence/absence and presumed etiology based on CMB distribution (strictly lobar CMBs related to probable or possible cerebral amyloid angiopathy [CAA] vs non-CAA) and burden (1, 2–4, 5–10, and CMBs), using random effects models. We pooled data from 10 studies including 1,306 patients: 325 with CAA-related and 981 CAA-unrelated ICH. The annual recurrent ICH risk was higher in CAA-related ICH vs CAA-unrelated ICH (7.4%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.2–12.6 vs 1.1%, 95% CI 0.5–1.7 per year, respectively p = 0.01). In CAA-related ICH, multiple baseline CMBs (versus none) were associated with ICH recurrence during follow-up (range 1–3 years): OR 3.1 (95% CI 1.4–6.8 p = 0.006), 4.3 (95% CI 1.8–10.3 p = 0.001), and 3.4 (95% CI 1.4–8.3 p = 0.007) for 2–4, 5–10, and CMBs, respectively. In CAA-unrelated ICH, only CMBs (versus none) were associated with recurrent ICH (OR 5.6, 95% CI 2.1–15 p = 0.001). The presence of 1 CMB (versus none) was not associated with recurrent ICH in CAA-related or CAA-unrelated cohorts. CMB burden and distribution on MRI identify subgroups of ICH survivors with higher ICH recurrence risk, which may help to predict ICH prognosis with relevance for clinical practice and treatment trials.
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 16-07-2014
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 12-03-2018
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2014
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 04-06-2015
DOI: 10.3109/09537104.2015.1049139
Abstract: The majority of patients with ischaemic cerebrovascular disease (CVD) are not protected from further vascular events with antiplatelet therapy. Measurement of inhibition of platelet function ex vivo on antiplatelet therapy, using laboratory tests that correlate with the clinical effectiveness of these agents, would potentially enable physicians to tailor antiplatelet therapy to suit in iduals. A systematic review of the literature was performed to collate all available data on ex vivo platelet function/reactivity in CVD patients, especially those treated with aspirin, dipyridamole or clopidogrel. Particular emphasis was paid to information from commonly available whole blood platelet function analysers (PFA-100®, VerifyNow® and Multiplate®). Data on pharmacogenetic mechanisms potentially influencing high on-treatment platelet reactivity (HTPR) on antiplatelet therapy in CVD were reviewed. Two-hundred forty-nine potentially relevant articles were identified 93 manuscripts met criteria for inclusion. The prevalence of ex vivo HTPR in CVD varies between 3-62% with aspirin monotherapy, 8-61% with clopidogrel monotherapy and 56-59% when dipyridamole is added to aspirin in the early, subacute or late phases after TIA/stroke onset. The prevalence of HTPR on aspirin was higher on the PFA-100 than on the VerifyNow in one study (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the prevalence of HTPR on aspirin was lower when one used 'novel longitudinal' rather than 'cross-sectional, case-control' definitions of HTPR on the PFA early after TIA or stroke (p = 0.003 1 study). Studies assessing the influence of genetic polymorphisms on HTPR in CVD patients are limited, and need validation in large multicentre studies. Available data illustrate that an important proportion of CVD patients have ex vivo HTPR on their prescribed antiplatelet regimen, and that the prevalence varies depending on the definition and assay used. Large, adequately-sized, prospective multicentre collaborative studies are urgently needed to determine whether comprehensive assessment of HTPR at high and low shear stress with a range of user-friendly whole blood platelet function testing platforms, in conjunction with pharmacogenetic data, improves our ability to predict the risk of recurrent vascular events in CVD patients, and thus enhance secondary prevention following TIA or ischaemic stroke.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 24-11-2014
DOI: 10.1038/NG.3154
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 16-03-2021
Abstract: Haemorrhagic transformation is a complication of recombinant tissue-plasminogen activator treatment. The most severe form, parenchymal haematoma, can result in neurological deterioration, disability, and death. Our objective was to identify single nucleotide variations associated with a risk of parenchymal haematoma following thrombolytic therapy in patients with acute ischaemic stroke. A fixed-effect genome-wide meta-analysis was performed combining two-stage genome-wide association studies (n = 1904). The discovery stage (three cohorts) comprised 1324 ischaemic stroke in iduals, 5.4% of whom had a parenchymal haematoma. Genetic variants yielding a P-value & 0.05 1 × 10−5 were analysed in the validation stage (six cohorts), formed by 580 ischaemic stroke patients with 12.1% haemorrhagic events. All participants received recombinant tissue-plasminogen activator cases were parenchymal haematoma type 1 or 2 as defined by the European Cooperative Acute Stroke Study (ECASS) criteria. Genome-wide significant findings (P & 5 × 10−8) were characterized by in silico functional annotation, gene expression, and DNA regulatory elements. We analysed 7 989 272 single nucleotide polymorphisms and identified a genome-wide association locus on chromosome 20 in the discovery cohort functional annotation indicated that the ZBTB46 gene was driving the association for chromosome 20. The top single nucleotide polymorphism was rs76484331 in the ZBTB46 gene [P = 2.49 × 10−8 odds ratio (OR): 11.21 95% confidence interval (CI): 4.82–26.55]. In the replication cohort (n = 580), the rs76484331 polymorphism was associated with parenchymal haematoma (P = 0.01), and the overall association after meta-analysis increased (P = 1.61 × 10−8 OR: 5.84 95% CI: 3.16–10.76). ZBTB46 codes the zinc finger and BTB domain-containing protein 46 that acts as a transcription factor. In silico studies indicated that ZBTB46 is expressed in brain tissue by neurons and endothelial cells. Moreover, rs76484331 interacts with the promoter sites located at 20q13. In conclusion, we identified single nucleotide variants in the ZBTB46 gene associated with a higher risk of parenchymal haematoma following recombinant tissue-plasminogen activator treatment.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 16-07-2021
DOI: 10.3390/JCM10143137
Abstract: Stroke is one of the most common causes of death and disability. Reperfusion therapies are the only treatment available during the acute phase of stroke. Due to recent clinical trials, these therapies may increase their frequency of use by extending the time-window administration, which may lead to an increase in complications such as hemorrhagic transformation, with parenchymal hematoma (PH) being the more severe subtype, associated with higher mortality and disability rates. Our aim was to find genetic risk factors associated with PH, as that could provide molecular targets athways for their prevention/treatment and study its genetic correlations to find traits sharing genetic background. We performed a GWAS and meta-analysis, following standard quality controls and association analysis (fastGWAS), adjusting age, NIHSS, and principal components. FUMA was used to annotate, prioritize, visualize, and interpret the meta-analysis results. The total number of patients in the meta-analysis was 2034 (216 cases and 1818 controls). We found rs79770152 having a genome-wide significant association (beta 0.09, p-value 3.90 × 10−8) located in the RP11-362K2.2:RP11-767I20.1 gene and a suggestive variant (rs13297983: beta 0.07, p-value 6.10 × 10−8) located in PCSK5 associated with PH occurrence. The genetic correlation showed a shared genetic background of PH with Alzheimer’s disease and white matter hyperintensities. In addition, genes containing the ten most significant associations have been related to aggregated amyloid-β, tau protein, white matter microstructure, inflammation, and matrix metalloproteinases.
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 11-2013
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 17-03-2014
DOI: 10.1093/IJE/DYU046
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 03-11-2020
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 24-08-2014
DOI: 10.1111/IJS.12309
Abstract: Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) accounted for 9% to 27% of all strokes worldwide in the last decade, with high early case fatality and poor functional outcome. In view of recent randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of the management of ICH, the European Stroke Organisation (ESO) has updated its evidence-based guidelines for the management of ICH. A multidisciplinary writing committee of 24 researchers from 11 European countries identified 20 questions relating to ICH management and created recommendations based on the evidence in RCTs using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. We found moderate- to high-quality evidence to support strong recommendations for managing patients with acute ICH on an acute stroke unit, avoiding hemostatic therapy for acute ICH not associated with antithrombotic drug use, avoiding graduated compression stockings, using intermittent pneumatic compression in immobile patients, and using blood pressure lowering for secondary prevention. We found moderate-quality evidence to support weak recommendations for intensive lowering of systolic blood pressure to mmHg within six-hours of ICH onset, early surgery for patients with a Glasgow Coma Scale score 9–12, and avoidance of corticosteroids. These guidelines inform the management of ICH based on evidence for the effects of treatments in RCTs. Outcome after ICH remains poor, prioritizing further RCTs of interventions to improve outcome.
Publisher: Massachusetts Medical Society
Date: 16-05-2019
Publisher: American Medical Association (AMA)
Date: 04-2019
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 27-09-2017
DOI: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000004560
Abstract: To determine whether common variants in familial cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) genes confer risk of sporadic cerebral SVD. We meta-analyzed genotype data from in iduals of European ancestry to determine associations of common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 6 familial cerebral SVD genes ( COL4A1 , COL4A2 , NOTCH3 , HTRA1 , TREX1 , and CECR1 ) with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) (deep, lobar, all 1,878 cases, 2,830 controls) and ischemic stroke (IS) (lacunar, cardioembolic, large vessel disease, all 19,569 cases, 37,853 controls). We applied data quality filters and set statistical significance thresholds accounting for linkage disequilibrium and multiple testing. A locus in COL4A2 was associated (significance threshold p 3.5 × 10 −4 ) with both lacunar IS (lead SNP rs9515201: odds ratio [OR] 1.17, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.11–1.24, p = 6.62 × 10 −8 ) and deep ICH (lead SNP rs4771674: OR 1.28, 95% CI 1.13–1.44, p = 5.76 × 10 −5 ). A SNP in HTRA1 was associated (significance threshold p 5.5 × 10 −4 ) with lacunar IS (rs79043147: OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.10–1.37, p = 1.90 × 10 −4 ) and less robustly with deep ICH. There was no clear evidence for association of common variants in either COL4A2 or HTRA1 with non-SVD strokes or in any of the other genes with any stroke phenotype. These results provide evidence of shared genetic determinants and suggest common pathophysiologic mechanisms of distinct ischemic and hemorrhagic cerebral SVD stroke phenotypes, offering new insights into the causal mechanisms of cerebral SVD.
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 04-01-0015
DOI: 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.118.313533
Abstract: Ischemic stroke is among the leading causes of adult disability. Part of the variability in functional outcome after stroke has been attributed to genetic factors but no locus has been consistently associated with stroke outcome. Our aim was to identify genetic loci influencing the recovery process using accurate phenotyping to produce the largest GWAS (genome-wide association study) in ischemic stroke recovery to date. A 12-cohort, 2-phase (discovery-replication and joint) meta-analysis of GWAS included anterior-territory and previously independent ischemic stroke cases. Functional outcome was recorded using 3-month modified Rankin Scale. Analyses were adjusted for confounders such as discharge National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale. A gene-based burden test was performed. The discovery phase (n=1225) was followed by open (n=2482) and stringent joint-analyses (n=1791). Those cohorts with modified Rankin Scale recorded at time points other than 3-month or incomplete data on previous functional status were excluded in the stringent analyses. Novel variants in PATJ (Pals1-associated tight junction) gene were associated with worse functional outcome at 3-month after stroke. The top variant was rs76221407 (G allele, β=0.40, P =1.70×10 −9 ). Our results identify a set of common variants in PATJ gene associated with 3-month functional outcome at genome-wide significance level. Future studies should examine the role of PATJ in stroke recovery and consider stringent phenotyping to enrich the information captured to unveil additional stroke outcome loci.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2018
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 02-2013
DOI: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.112.668277
Abstract: Although experimental data suggest that statin therapy may improve neurological outcome after acute cerebral ischemia, the results from clinical studies are conflicting. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis investigating the relationship between statin therapy and outcome after ischemic stroke. The primary analysis investigated statin therapy at stroke onset (prestroke statin use) and good functional outcome (modified Rankin score 0 to 2) and death. Secondary analyses included the following: (1) acute poststroke statin therapy (≤72 hours after stroke), and (2) thrombolysis-treated patients. The primary analysis included 113 148 subjects (27 studies). Among observational studies, statin treatment at stroke onset was associated with good functional outcome at 90 days (pooled odds ratio [OR], 1.41 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.29–1.56 P .001), but not 1 year (OR, 1.12 95% CI, 0.9–1.4 P =0.31), and with reduced fatality at 90 days (pooled OR, 0.71 95% CI, 0.62–0.82 P .001) and 1 year (OR, 0.80 95% CI, 0.67–0.95 P =0.01). In the single randomized controlled trial reporting 90-day functional outcome, statin treatment was associated with good outcome (OR, 1.5 95% CI, 1.0–2.24 P =0.05). No reduction in fatality was observed on meta-analysis of data from 3 randomized controlled trials ( P =0.9). In studies restricted to of thrombolysis-treated patients, an association between statins and increased fatality at 90 days was observed (pooled OR, 1.25 95% CI, 1.02–1.52 P =0.03, 3 studies, 4339 patients). However, this association was no longer present after adjusting for age and stroke severity in the largest study (adjusted OR, 1.14 95% CI, 0.90–1.44 4012 patients). In the largest meta-analysis to date, statin therapy at stroke onset was associated with improved outcome, a finding not observed in studies restricted to thrombolysis-treated patients. Randomized trials of statin therapy in acute ischemic stroke are needed.
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 05-2023
DOI: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.122.040529
Abstract: Anti-inflammatory therapies reduce recurrent vascular events in coronary disease. Existing studies have reported highly conflicting findings for the association of blood inflammatory markers with vascular recurrence after stroke leading to uncertainty about the potential of anti-inflammatory therapies after stroke and no consensus about the utility of measurement of inflammatory markers in current guidelines. We investigated the association between hsCRP (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein), IL-6 (interluekin-6), and recurrent major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), and stroke from in idual participant data from 8420 patients with ischemic stroke/transient ischemic attack from 10 prospective studies. We did within-study multivariable regression analyses and then combined adjusted risk ratio (RR) by random-effects meta-analysis. During 18 920 person-years of follow-up, 1407 (16.7% [95% CI, 15.9–17.5]) patients had MACE and 1191 (14.1% [95% CI, 13.4–14.9]) patients had recurrent stroke. On bivariate analysis, baseline IL-6 was associated with MACE (RR, 1.26 [95% CI, 1.10–1.43]) and recurrent stroke (RR, 1.18 [95% CI, 1.05–1.32]), per unit increase log e IL-6. Similar associations were observed for hsCRP (MACE RR, 1.19 [95% CI, 1.09–1.29] recurrent stroke RR, 1.12 [95% CI, 1.04–1.21], per unit increase log e hsCRP). After adjustment for vascular risk factors and treatment, independent associations remained with MACE (IL-6, RR, 1.12 [95% CI, 1.04–1.21] hsCRP, RR, 1.09 [95% CI, 1.04–1.15]) and recurrent stroke (IL-6, RR, 1.09 [95% CI, 1.00–1.19] hsCRP, RR, 1.05 [95% CI, 1.00–1.11]). Comparing the top with the bottom quarters (Q4 versus Q1), IL-6 (RR, 1.35 [95% CI, 1.09–1.67]) and hsCRP (RR, 1.31 [95% CI, 1.07–1.61]) were associated with MACE after adjustment. Similar results were observed for recurrent stroke for IL-6 (RR, 1.33 [95% CI, 1.08–1.65]) but not hsCRP (RR, 1.16 [95% CI, 0.93–1.43]). Blood markers of inflammation were independently associated with vascular recurrence after stroke, strengthening the rationale for randomized trials of anti-inflammatory therapies for secondary prevention after ischemic stroke/TIA.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2022
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 12-08-2020
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 02-2022
DOI: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.121.055018
Abstract: Growing evidence suggests a consistent association between atrial fibrillation (AF) and cognitive impairment and dementia that is independent of clinical stroke. This report from the AF-SCREEN International Collaboration summarizes the evidence linking AF to cognitive impairment and dementia. It provides guidance on the investigation and management of dementia in patients with AF on the basis of best available evidence. The document also addresses suspected pathophysiologic mechanisms and identifies knowledge gaps for future research. Whereas AF and dementia share numerous risk factors, the association appears to be independent of these variables. Nevertheless, the evidence remains inconclusive regarding a direct causal effect. Several pathophysiologic mechanisms have been proposed, some of which are potentially amenable to early intervention, including cerebral microinfarction, AF-related cerebral hypoperfusion, inflammation, microhemorrhage, brain atrophy, and systemic atherosclerotic vascular disease. The mitigating role of oral anticoagulation in specific subgroups (eg, low stroke risk, short duration or silent AF, after successful AF ablation, or atrial cardiopathy) and the effect of rhythm versus rate control strategies remain unknown. Likewise, screening for AF (in cognitively normal or cognitively impaired patients) and screening for cognitive impairment in patients with AF are debated. The pathophysiology of dementia and therapeutic strategies to reduce cognitive impairment warrant further investigation in in iduals with AF. Cognition should be evaluated in future AF studies and integrated with patient-specific outcome priorities and patient preferences. Further large-scale prospective studies and randomized trials are needed to establish whether AF is a risk factor for cognitive impairment, to investigate strategies to prevent dementia, and to determine whether screening for unknown AF followed by targeted therapy might prevent or reduce cognitive impairment and dementia.
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 26-11-2019
DOI: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.119.040267
Abstract: Cardiac thromboembolism attributed to atrial fibrillation (AF) is responsible for up to one-third of ischemic strokes. Stroke may be the first manifestation of previously undetected AF. Given the efficacy of oral anticoagulants in preventing AF-related ischemic strokes, strategies of searching for AF after a stroke using ECG monitoring followed by oral anticoagulation (OAC) treatment have been proposed to prevent recurrent cardioembolic strokes. This white paper by experts from the AF-SCREEN International Collaboration summarizes existing evidence and knowledge gaps on searching for AF after a stroke by using ECG monitoring. New AF can be detected by routine plus intensive ECG monitoring in approximately one-quarter of patients with ischemic stroke. It may be causal, a bystander, or neurogenically induced by the stroke. AF after a stroke is a risk factor for thromboembolism and a strong marker for atrial myopathy. After acute ischemic stroke, patients should undergo 72 hours of electrocardiographic monitoring to detect AF. The diagnosis requires an ECG of sufficient quality for confirmation by a health professional with ECG rhythm expertise. AF detection rate is a function of monitoring duration and quality of analysis, AF episode definition, interval from stroke to monitoring commencement, and patient characteristics including old age, certain ECG alterations, and stroke type. Markers of atrial myopathy (eg, imaging, atrial ectopy, natriuretic peptides) may increase AF yield from monitoring and could be used to guide patient selection for more intensive rolonged poststroke ECG monitoring. Atrial myopathy without detected AF is not currently sufficient to initiate OAC. The concept of embolic stroke of unknown source is not proven to identify patients who have had a stroke benefitting from empiric OAC treatment. However, some embolic stroke of unknown source subgroups (eg, advanced age, atrial enlargement) might benefit more from non–vitamin K-dependent OAC therapy than aspirin. Fulfilling embolic stroke of unknown source criteria is an indication neither for empiric non–vitamin K-dependent OAC treatment nor for withholding prolonged ECG monitoring for AF. Clinically diagnosed AF after a stroke or a transient ischemic attack is associated with significantly increased risk of recurrent stroke or systemic embolism, in particular, with additional stroke risk factors, and requires OAC rather than antiplatelet therapy. The minimum subclinical AF duration required on ECG monitoring poststroke/transient ischemic attack to recommend OAC therapy is debated.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2014
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 25-03-2021
DOI: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000011885
Abstract: To measure the global impact of COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of IV thrombolysis (IVT), IVT transfers, and stroke hospitalizations over 4 months at the height of the pandemic (March 1 to June 30, 2020) compared with 2 control 4-month periods. 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 or classifications in stroke databases. 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% confidence interval [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 2 later (May, June) vs the 2 earlier (March, April) pandemic months. There was a 1.48% stroke rate across 119,967 COVID-19 hospitalizations. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection was noted in 3.3% (1,722/52,026) of all stroke admissions. 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 COVID-19 inpatient volumes experienced steeper declines. Recovery of stroke hospitalization was noted in the later pandemic months.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 19-10-2016
DOI: 10.1002/ANA.24780
Abstract: In observational epidemiologic studies, higher plasma high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C) has been associated with increased risk of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). DNA sequence variants that decrease cholesteryl ester transfer protein ( CETP ) gene activity increase plasma HDL‐C as such, medicines that inhibit CETP and raise HDL‐C are in clinical development. Here, we test the hypothesis that CETP DNA sequence variants associated with higher HDL‐C also increase risk for ICH. We performed 2 candidate‐gene analyses of CETP . First, we tested in idual CETP variants in a discovery cohort of 1,149 ICH cases and 1,238 controls from 3 studies, followed by replication in 1,625 cases and 1,845 controls from 5 studies. Second, we constructed a genetic risk score comprised of 7 independent variants at the CETP locus and tested this score for association with HDL‐C as well as ICH risk. Twelve variants within CETP demonstrated nominal association with ICH, with the strongest association at the rs173539 locus (odds ratio [OR] = 1.25, standard error [SE] = 0.06, p = 6.0 × 10 −4 ) with no heterogeneity across studies ( I 2 = 0%). This association was replicated in patients of European ancestry ( p = 0.03). A genetic score of CETP variants found to increase HDL‐C by ∼2.85mg/dl in the Global Lipids Genetics Consortium was strongly associated with ICH risk (OR = 1.86, SE = 0.13, p = 1.39 × 10 −6 ). Genetic variants in CETP associated with increased HDL‐C raise the risk of ICH. Given ongoing therapeutic development in CETP inhibition and other HDL‐raising strategies, further exploration of potential adverse cerebrovascular outcomes may be warranted. Ann Neurol 2016 :730–740
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 03-06-2019
DOI: 10.1038/S41588-019-0449-0
Abstract: An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2016
Publisher: S. Karger AG
Date: 2011
DOI: 10.1159/000330653
Abstract: Over 2 million people are affected by intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) worldwide every year, one third of them dying within 1 month, and many survivors being left with permanent disability. Unlike most other stroke types, the incidence, morbidity and mortality of ICH have not declined over time. No standardised diagnostic workup for the detection of the various underlying causes of ICH currently exists, and the evidence for medical or surgical therapeutic interventions remains limited. A dedicated European research programme for ICH is needed to identify ways to reduce the burden of ICH-related death and disability. The European Research Network on Intracerebral Haemorrhage EURONICH is a multidisciplinary academic research collaboration that has been established to define current research priorities and to conduct large clinical studies on all aspects of ICH.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 22-06-2020
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 09-2010
DOI: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.110.587980
Abstract: Background and Purpose— Genome-wide association studies recently identified 2 variants on chromosome 4q25 as susceptibility factors for atrial fibrillation. Interestingly, these variants were subsequently also shown to be associated with stroke. However, it remains unclear whether 4q25 associates with all the stroke subtypes or with cardioembolic stroke in particular, which is often attributable to atrial fibrillation. Methods— We performed a large case-control association study in 4199 ischemic stroke patients, all subtyped according to Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment criteria, and 3750 controls derived from 6 studies conducted in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Poland, Spain, and Sweden. Two variants on chromosome 4q25, rs1906591 and rs10033464, were genotyped. Results— Within cases, the A-allele of rs1906591 was associated with atrial fibrillation (odds ratio, 1.64 [95% CI, 1.43 to 1.90] P =9.2 · 10 −12 ), whereas rs10033464 was only marginally associated. There was an association between overall ischemic stroke and rs1906591 (odds ratio, 1.20 [95% CI, 1.09 to 1.32] P =1.2 · 10 −4 ). However, this was probably caused by the large effect of stroke of cardioembolic etiology because no relation was obtained in any other subgroup of stroke. The rs10033464 variant failed to show any relationship with ischemic stroke. Conclusions— We replicated the association of the rs1906591 variant on chromosome 4q25 with atrial fibrillation and ischemic stroke of cardioembolic etiology. The 4q25 locus failed to associate with noncardiac subtypes of ischemic stroke.
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
No related grants have been discovered for Joan Montaner.