Early Recanalization Rates and Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Tandem Internal Carotid Artery/Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion and Isolated Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion

Authors

KIM Jo Sik ZSOLT Garami MIKULÍK Robert MOLINA Carlos ALEXANDROV Andrei

Year of publication 2005
Type Article in Periodical
Magazine / Source Stroke : a journal of cerebral circulation
MU Faculty or unit

Faculty of Medicine

Citation
Field Neurology, neurosurgery, neurosciences
Keywords stroke acute; outcome; ultrasonography; Doppler transcranial; thrombolysis
Description Background: Patients with isolated middle cerebral artery (MCA) and tandem MCA/internal carotid artery (ICA)obstruction have similar presenting symptoms and stroke severity. We aimed to investigate early recanalization of MCA and clinical outcomes in patients with tandem ICA/MCA obstructions and isolated MCA occlusion. Methods: Patients with MCA occlusion on pretreatment transcranial Doppler were treated with intravenous tissue plasminogen activator. ICA lesions were detected with carotid duplex. Early neurological improvement (ENI) was defined by reduction of National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) 10 or more points or total NIHSS 3 or less points. Good outcome at 3 months was a modified Rankin score of 2 or more. Results: Among 104 patients, 31% had tandem lesions and 69% had isolated MCA occlusions. Complete recanalization rate was 39% in isolated MCA occlusion group and 9% in tandem group (P=0.002). ENI at 24 hours occurred in 46% of the isolated MCA occlusion group and in 25% of the tandem group (P=0.045). Good outcome was achieved by 30% and 39% respective patients (NS). Conclusion: The tandem lesion group showed lower early recanalization rate and ENI rate than the isolated MCA occlusion group. Despite this, good outcomes were similar in both groups.

You are running an old browser version. We recommend updating your browser to its latest version.

More info