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Objectives: To determine the prevalence and distribution of intracranial vessel occlusion identified on computed tomography (CT) or magnet resonance (MR) angiography and to explore its association with functional outcome in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and ischemic stroke. Methods: Multicenter cohort study enrolling consecutive patients with AF with imaging‐confirmed ischemic stroke who underwent CT‐ or MR‐angiography on admission (2014–2022). Multivariable regression was used to explore the association between intracranial vessel occlusion and poor functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale score 3–6) at 90 days. Results: The analysis included 10,164 patients (median age 81.5 years, 47.8% female, median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score on admission 6; 14.7% on a vitamin K antagonist [VKA], 27.5% on a direct oral anticoagulant [DOAC], 57.8% not receiving oral anticoagulation). Angiography showed intracranial vessel occlusion in 5,190 patients (51.1%), affecting the anterior cerebral circulation in 87.4%. Overall, 29.2% and 29.4% of patients received thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy, respectively. The proportion of patients with poor functional outcome at 90 days was 60.6% and 42.7% in those with and without vessel occlusion, respectively. In multivariable analyses, vessel occlusion was associated with poor functional outcome (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.95, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.71–2.22) with consistent results in subgroups according to oral anticoagulation use (VKA, aOR: 1.98, 95% CI: 1.40–2.80; DOAC, aOR: 2.35, 95% CI: 1.83–3.03; none, aOR: 1.76, 95% CI: 1.49–2.09). Interpretation: Intracranial vessel occlusion is common in patients with AF with ischemic stroke, mainly affects the anterior circulation and is associated with poor functional outcome. ANN NEUROL 2024;96:1115–1123 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) and reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS) may cause ischaemic stroke and intracranial haemorrhage. The aim of our study was to assess the frequency of the afore‐mentioned outcomes. Methods: We performed a PROSPERO‐registered (CRD42022355704) systematic review and meta‐analysis accessing PubMed until 7 November 2022. The inclusion criteria were: (1) original publication, (2) adult patients (≥18 years), (3) enrolling patients with PRES and/or RCVS, (4) English language and (5) outcome information. Outcomes were frequency of (1) ischaemic stroke and (2) intracranial haemorrhage, divided into subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) and intraparenchymal haemorrhage (IPH). The Cochrane Risk of Bias tool was used. Results: We identified 848 studies and included 48 relevant studies after reviewing titles, abstracts and full text. We found 11 studies on RCVS (unselected patients), reporting on 2746 patients. Among the patients analysed, 15.9% (95% CI 9.6%–23.4%) had ischaemic stroke and 22.1% (95% CI 10%–39.6%) had intracranial haemorrhage. A further 20.3% (95% CI 11.2%–31.2%) had SAH and 6.7% (95% CI 3.6%–10.7%) had IPH. Furthermore, we found 28 studies on PRES (unselected patients), reporting on 1385 patients. Among the patients analysed, 11.2% (95% CI 7.9%–15%) had ischaemic stroke and 16.1% (95% CI 12.3%–20.3%) had intracranial haemorrhage. Further, 7% (95% CI 4.7%–9.9%) had SAH and 9.7% (95% CI 5.4%–15%) had IPH. Conclusions: Intracranial haemorrhage and ischaemic stroke are common outcomes in PRES and RCVS. The frequency reported in the individual studies varied considerably. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sometimes migraine aura changes from attack to attack, raising the question of whether the change is heralding an ischemic stroke or an unusual aura. Differentiating unusual migraine aura from the onset of an acute ischemic stroke in patients with migraine with aura (MwA) can be challenging. Objective: The aim of this cohort study was to assess clinical characteristics that help distinguish between MwA and minor stroke in patients with a previous history of MwA who presented with suspicion of stroke. Methods: We interviewed patients with MwA and ischemic stroke (MwA + IS) and patients with MwA and unusual aura, but without ischemic stroke (MwA − IS) from a tertiary hospital using a structured questionnaire. We assessed how symptoms of ischemic stroke or unusual aura differed from usual, that is, the typical aura in each patient. Stroke or exclusion of stroke was verified by multimodal magnetic resonance imaging. Results: Seventeen patients with MwA + IS and twelve patients with MwA − IS were included. New focal neurological symptoms (13/17 [76%] vs. 3/12 [25%]), change of the first symptom (10/17 [59%] vs. 1/12 [8%]), and absence of headache (6/15 [40%] vs. 2/10 [20%]) were more often reported during ischemic stroke. The physical examination was normal in 8/17 (47%) MwA + IS and in 6/12 (50%) MwA − IS patients. In 5/17 (29%) patients with MwA + IS, there were unequivocal physical signs suggestive of stroke such as persistent visual loss, ataxia, or paresis. Conclusion: There are clues from the history that might help identify stroke in patients with MwA with changed aura symptoms. These might be particularly useful in patients presenting without physical findings suggestive of stroke. Plain Language Summary: Sometimes migraine aura symptoms change from attack to attack, raising the question of whether the change is heralding an ischemic stroke or simply an unusual aura. In patients with migraine with aura, we compared symptoms of unusual aura in patients who had ischemic stroke on imaging versus those who did not. Patients who had ischemic stroke were more likely to report new neurological symptoms (such as visual, sensory, speech, or motor symptoms), change of first occurring symptom (e.g., sensory instead of the usual visual), and absence of headache during the attack. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: To investigate the association of different phenotypes, count, and locations of chronic covert brain infarctions (CBI) with long‐term mortality in patients with first‐ever manifest acute ischemic stroke (AIS) or transient ischemic attack (TIA). Additionally, to analyze their potential interaction with white matter hyperintensities (WMH) and predictive value in addition to established mortality scores. Methods: Single‐center cohort study including consecutive patients with first‐ever AIS or TIA with available MRI imaging from January 2015 to December 2017. Blinded raters adjudicated CBI phenotypes and WMH (age‐related white matter changes score) according to established definitions. We compared Cox regression models including prespecified established predictors of mortality using Harrell's C and likelihood ratio tests. Results: A total of 2236 patients (median [interquartile range] age: 71 [59‐80] years, 43% female, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale: 2 [1‐6], median follow‐up: 1436 days, 21% death during follow‐up) were included. Increasing WMH (per point adjusted Hazard Ratio [aHR] = 1.29 [1.14‐1.45]), but not CBI (aHR = 1.21 [0.99‐1.49]), were independently associated with mortality. Neither CBI phenotype, count, nor location was associated with mortality and there was no multiplicative interaction between CBI and WMH (p >.1). As compared to patients without CBI or WMH, patients with moderate or severe WMH and additional CBI had the highest hazards of death (aHR = 1.62 [1.23‐2.13]). The Cox regression model including CBI and WMH had a small but significant increment in Harrell's C when compared to the model including 14 clinical variables (0.831 vs. 0.827, p <.001). Discussion: WMH represent a strong surrogate biomarker of long‐term mortality in first‐ever manifest AIS or TIA patients. CBI phenotypes, count, and location seem less relevant. Incorporation of CBI and WMH slightly improves predictive capacity of established risk scores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]