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Background: Thyroid hormones were reported to exert neuroprotective effects after ischemic stroke by reducing the burden of brain injury and promoting post-ischemic brain remodeling. Objective: We aimed to analyze the value of thyroid hormone replacement therapy (THRT) due to pre-existing hypothyroidism on the clinical course and outcome of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Methods: SAH individuals treated between January 2003 and June 2016 were included. Data on baseline characteristics of patients and SAH, adverse events and functional outcome of SAH were recorded. Study endpoints were cerebral infarction, in-hospital mortality and unfavorable outcome at 6 months. Associations were adjusted for outcome-relevant confounders. Results: 109 (11%) of 995 individuals had THRT before SAH. Risk of intracranial pressure- or vasospasm-related cerebrovascular events was inversely associated with presence of THRT (p = 0.047). In multivariate analysis, THRT was independently associated with lower risk of cerebral infarction (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.64, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.41–0.99, p = 0.045) and unfavorable outcome (aOR = 0.50, 95% CI = 0.28–0.89, p = 0.018), but not with in-hospital mortality (aOR = 0.69, 95% CI = 0.38–1.26, p = 0.227). Conclusion: SAH patients with THRT show lower burden of ischemia-relevant cerebrovascular events and more favorable outcome. Further experimental and clinical studies are required to confirm our results and elaborate the mechanistic background of the effect of THRT on course and outcome of SAH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge of the bleeding risk and the long-term outcome of conservatively treated patients with cavernous malformations (CM) is poor. In this work, we studied the occurrence of CM-associated hemorrhage over a 10-year period and investigated risk factors for bleeding. Our institutional database was screened for patients with cerebral (CCM) or intramedullary spinal cord (ISCM) CM admitted between 2003 and 2021. Patients who underwent surgery and patients without completed follow-up were excluded. Analyses were performed to identify risk factors and to determine the cumulative risk for hemorrhage. A total of 91 CM patients were included. Adjusted multivariate logistic regression analysis identified bleeding at diagnosis (p = 0.039) and CM localization to the spine (p = 0.010) as predictors for (re)hemorrhage. Both risk factors remained independent predictors through Cox regression analysis (p = 0.049; p = 0.016). The cumulative 10-year risk of bleeding was 30% for the whole cohort, 39% for patients with bleeding at diagnosis and 67% for ISCM. During an untreated 10-year follow-up, the probability of hemorrhage increased over time, especially in cases with bleeding at presentation and spinal cord localization. The intensity of such increase may decline throughout time but remains considerably high. These findings may indicate a rather aggressive course in patients with ISCM and may endorse early surgical treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge of the bleeding risk and the long-term outcome of conservatively treated patients with cavernous malformations (CM) is poor. In this work, we studied the occurrence of CM-associated hemorrhage over a 10-year period and investigated risk factors for bleeding. Our institutional database was screened for patients with cerebral (CCM) or intramedullary spinal cord (ISCM) CM admitted between 2003 and 2021. Patients who underwent surgery and patients without completed follow-up were excluded. Analyses were performed to identify risk factors and to determine the cumulative risk for hemorrhage. A total of 91 CM patients were included. Adjusted multivariate logistic regression analysis identified bleeding at diagnosis (p = 0.039) and CM localization to the spine (p = 0.010) as predictors for (re)hemorrhage. Both risk factors remained independent predictors through Cox regression analysis (p = 0.049; p = 0.016). The cumulative 10-year risk of bleeding was 30% for the whole cohort, 39% for patients with bleeding at diagnosis and 67% for ISCM. During an untreated 10-year follow-up, the probability of hemorrhage increased over time, especially in cases with bleeding at presentation and spinal cord localization. The intensity of such increase may decline throughout time but remains considerably high. These findings may indicate a rather aggressive course in patients with ISCM and may endorse early surgical treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the 5‐year risk of a third bleeding event in cavernous malformations (CMs) of the central nervous system. Methods: Patients with cerebral or spinal CMs treated between 2003 and 2021 were screened using our institutional database. Patients with a complete magnetic resonance imaging dataset, clinical baseline characteristics, and history of two bleeding events were included. Patients who underwent surgical CM removal were excluded. Neurological functional status was obtained using the modified Rankin Scale score at the second and third bleeding. Kaplan–Meier and Cox regression analyses were performed to determine the cumulative 5‐year risk for a third haemorrhage. Results: Forty‐two patients were included. Cox regression analysis adjusted for age and sex did not identify risk factors for a third haemorrhage. 37% of patients experienced neurological deterioration after the third haemorrhage (p = 0.019). The cumulative 5‐year risk of a third bleeding was 66.7% (95% confidence interval [CI] 50.4%–80%) for the whole cohort, 65.9% (95% CI 49.3%–79.5%) for patients with bleeding at initial diagnosis, 72.7% (95% CI 39.3%–92.7%) for patients with a developmental venous anomaly, 76.9% (95% CI 55.9%–90.3%) for patients with CM localization to the brainstem and 75% (95% CI 50.6%–90.4%) for patients suffering from familial CM disease. Conclusions: During an untreated 5‐year follow‐up after a second haemorrhage, a significantly increased risk of a third haemorrhage compared to the known risk of a first and second bleeding event was identified. The third bleeding was significantly associated with neurological deterioration. These findings may justify a surgical treatment after a second bleeding event. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blood pressure management is crucial in the treatment of patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). Possible association between the blood pressure increase and the risk of delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) and different systemic complications after aSAH is still a matter of debate. This study aims to elucidate the influence of blood pressure levels on the outcome of aSAH. All consecutive aSAH patients (n = 690) treated between 01/2003 and 06/2016 were included. The mean value of the mean arterial pressure (MAP) during 14 days after ictus was calculated for each individual. According to the institutional standards of vasospasm management, the mean 14 days MAP ≥ 95 mmHg was referred as increased (IMAP) and the patients with and without vasospasm were analyzed separately. Study endpoints were the occurrence of DCI on computed tomography scans, development of cardiac and nephrological complications, and poor outcome 6 months after aSAH (mRS > 2). Associations were tested in univariable/multivariable binary logistic regression analysis. IMAP was documented in 474 (68.7%) cases and was more common in individuals with poor neurological conditions at admission (p < 0.001), severe amount of intracranial blood (p = 0.001) and premorbid hypertension (p < 0.001). IMAP was independently associated with the occurrence of DCI (p = 0.014; aOR = 2.97; 95% CI 1.25–7.09) and poor functional outcome (p = 0.020; aOR = 3.14; 95% CI 1.20–8.22) in patients with vasospasm, but not in counterparts without vasospasm (p = 0.113/p = 0.086). IMAP had no influence on cardiac or nephrological complications. In aSAH individuals with cerebral vasospasm, sustained increase of blood pressure exceeding the therapeutic targets is strongly associated with the risk of DCI and poor outcome. Therefore, such an intrinsic increase of blood pressure might reflect the autoregulatory mechanisms against the impending cerebral ischemia in patients with cerebral vasospasm. Trial registration number: German clinical trial registry (DRKS, Unique identifier: DRKS00008749, 06/09/2015). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: Analyze and compare the natural course of confirmed familial cerebral cavernous malformation (FCCM), assumed FCCM and non‐familial multiple cerebral cavernous malformation (CCM) disease over a 5‐year period. Methods: Our institutional database was screened for patients with CCM admitted between 2003 and 2020. Patients with complete magnetic resonance imaging dataset, evidence of multiple CCM, clinical baseline characteristics, and follow‐up examination were included. Patients were separated into confirmed familial cases, assumed familial cases or non‐familial multiple cavernous malformations. Kaplan–Meier and Cox regression analyses were performed to determine the cumulative 5‐year risk for hemorrhage and recurrent hemorrhage. Results: A total of 238 patients with multiple CCM were analyzed; 90 individuals had a confirmed FCCM disease, 115 an assumed FCCM, and 33 were allocated to the non‐FCCM group. Univariate Cox regression analysis identified intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) as mode of presentation (p = 0.001) as a predictor for occurrence of recurrent hemorrhage during the 5‐year follow‐up (FU). The cumulative 5‐year risk of (re)bleeding was 21.6% for the entire cohort, 30.7% for patients with ICH at diagnosis, 22.1% for those patients with a confirmed diagnosis of FCCM, 23.5% for those with an assumed FCCM, and 21% for the non‐FCCM cases. Conclusions: FCCM patients with ICH at diagnosis are prone to develop rebleeding. During untreated 5‐year FU, FCCM patients and patients with sporadic multiple CCM reveal an almost equal susceptibility for (re)hemorrhage. Moreover, confirmed, assumed and non‐FCCM patients showed an equal cumulative 5‐year risk of symptomatic ICH. The probability of hemorrhage tends to increase over time, particularly in cases with ICH at presentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]