No abstract

Background Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) may interfere with platelet function, and pre-stroke SSRI treatment has been associated with increased hematoma volumes and mortality in hemorrhagic stroke patients. The effects of SSRI on the risk of hemorrhagic complications after thrombolysis in ischemic stroke patients are unclear. Aims To examine the effects of pre-stroke SSRI exposure on bleeding complications, functional outcome, and mortality following thrombolysis in ischemic stroke. Methods Data including standard demographic and clinical variables as well as baseline and follow-up stroke severity (measured by National Institutes of Health Stroke Score), functional outcome (measured by modified Rankin Scale) at 3 months, and mortality at 7 and 90 days were extracted from the Virtual International Stroke Trials Archive. Multivariable binary logistic regression was used for statistical analyses. Results Out of 1114 ischemic stroke patients treated with recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator, 135 (12.1%) had previous SSRI exposure. Symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage occurred in 30 (2.7%) patients. Of those, 2 (1.5%, n = 135) were in the SSRI pretreatment group and 28 (2.9%, n = 979) were SSRI naive patients. Pre-stroke SSRI exposure in thrombolysed patients showed association with neither bleeding complications ( P = .58) nor functional outcome ( P = .38) nor mortality ( P = .65). Conclusions Results from this large retrospective ad hoc database cohort study indicate that pre-stroke SSRI exposure in ischemic stroke patients who receive thrombolytic treatment is not associated with bleeding complications, functional outcome, or mortality.

Background: This study aimed to determine the peripheral cutaneous nerve fields (CNF), their variability, and potential overlap by selectively blocking the intermediate (IFCN) and medial (MFCN) femoral cutaneous nerves and the infrapatellar branch of the saphenous nerve (IPBSN) in healthy volunteers. Methods: In this prospective study, ultrasound-guided nerve blockades of the IFCN, MFCN, and IPBSN in 14 healthy volunteers were administered. High-frequency probes (15-22 MHz) and 1 ml of 1% lidocaine per nerve were used. The area of sensory loss was determined using a pinprick, and all fields were drawn on volunteers' skin. A three-dimensional (3D) scan of all lower limbs was obtained and the three CNF and their potential overlap were measured. Results: The mean size of innervation areas showed a high variability of peripheral CNF, with 258.58 ± 148.26 mm 2 (95% CI, 169-348.18 mm 2) for the IFCN, 193.26 ± 72.08 mm 2 (95% CI, 124.45-262.08 mm 2) for the MFCN, and 166.78 ± 121.30 mm 2 (95% CI, 94.1-239.46 mm 2) for the IPBSN. In 11 volunteers, we could evaluate an overlap between the IFCN and MFCN (range, 4.11-139.68 ± 42.70 mm 2), and, in 10 volunteers, between the MFCN and IPBSN (range, 11.12-224.95 ± 79.61 mm 2). In only three volunteers was an overlap area found between the IFCN and IPBSN (range, 7.46-224.95 ± 88.88 mm 2). The 3D-scans confirmed the high variability of the peripheral CNF.

BackgroundTo assess changes in frequency, severity, complications, therapy and outcome of intracerebral hemorrhage in patients treated in stroke units in Austria, we evaluated data from the Austrian Stroke Unit Registry between 2008 and 2016.Methods and findingsData of 6707 cases of ICH covering a time span of 9 years and including information on age, risk factors, pre-stroke modified Rankin Score (mRS), baseline stroke severity (NIHSS), complications, therapy, functional outcome, and mortality were extracted from the Austrian Stroke Unit Registry. A multivariate regularized logistic regression model and linear models for temporal dependence were computed for analyzing statistical inference and time trends. Bonferroni correction was applied to correct for multiple testing.Between 2008 and 2016, the proportion of ICH admissions to stroke units in Austria declined, with a shift among patients towards older age (>70 years, p = 0.04) and lower admission NIHSS scores. While no significant time trends in risk factors, pre-stroke mRS and medical complications were observed, therapeutic interventions declined significantly (p<0.001). Three-month mortality increased over the years independently (p = 0.003).ConclusionsDespite declining incidence and clinical severity of ICH we observed a clear increase in three-month mortality. This effect seems to be independent of predictors including age, admission NIHSS, pre-morbid MRS, or medical complications. The observations from this large retrospective database cohort study underline an urgent call for action in the therapy of ICH.

Fortschritte im Bereich der Magnetresonanz(MR)-