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Background: Ticagrelor is one of the most recent antiplatelet drugs to be approved to treat ischemic heart disease. Its efficacy may exceed aspirin in improving clinical outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke who are ineligible for rt-PA. Objectives: We evaluated the safety regarding hemorrhagic complications (as a primary endpoint) and the efficacy (as a secondary endpoint) of a 180-mg loading dose of ticagrelor given within 9 h from the onset of the first-ever non-cardioembolic ischemic stroke. Methods: We conducted our study on patients aged 18–75 years who presented with their first clinically manifested non-cardioembolic ischemic stroke and were recruited from the emergency department OF Kafr El-Sheik University Hospitals, Egypt. Eligible patients randomly received ticagrelor or aspirin loading and maintenance doses. Screening, randomization, and initiation of treatment all occurred within the first 9 h of stroke onset. Results: Eighty-five patients received ticagrelor, and 84 received aspirin. Patients who received ticagrelor had a better clinical outcome in terms of NIHSS improvement at 2 days and 1 week of discharge and a favorable mRS score after 1 week of discharge and at 90-day follow-up. There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding hemorrhagic adverse effects. Conclusion: This pilot study found that ticagrelor had a better clinical outcome than aspirin based on NIHSS and mRS in acute ischemic stroke patients who received it within 9 h from symptom onset and had a shorter hospital stay duration. Ticagrelor was non-inferior to aspirin regarding hemorrhagic complications. Trial registration: We registered our trial on ClinicalTrials.gov, named after "ticagrelor versus aspirin in ischemic stroke," and with a clinical trial number (NCT03884530)—March 21, 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The anatomical location of white matter hyperintense lesions in small vessel disease are apparently similar to those of borderzone infarction. The objective of this study is to find clinical and radiological points of differentiation between the two vascular disorders in a sample of Egyptian patients which might have an impact on primary and secondary prevention.Methods: Ischemic stroke patients with white matter lesions were categorized into two groups: small vessel disease and borderzone infarctions. NIHSS was done on admission. Risk factor profile was reported, and investigations done including: HbA1C, lipid profile, CRP, ECG, echocardiography, carotid duplex, brain MRI, MRA and MR perfusion study.Results: 46 patients completed the study, 29 with SVD and 17 with BZI. Smoking, hypertension and recurrent stroke were more common in borderzone infarctions, but only diabetes was significantly higher (p = 0.047). Limb shaking was more observed in borderzone infarctions (p = 0.049). Radiologically: lacunar pattern was observed more in small vessel disease, while rosary pattern was more in borderzone infarctions (p = 0.04). FLAIR symmetrical lesions and microbleeds were more significant in small vessel disease (p = <0.001; 0.048, respectively). Perfusion study time to peak denoted evidence of significant hypoperfusion in all regions of interest in borderzone infarctions.Conclusion: Limb shaking, retinal claudication or syncope, with MRI showing rosary pattern of white matter hyperintensity, few microbleeds and markedly impaired perfusion favor the diagnosis of borderzone infarctions. On the other hand, presence of lacunae, FLAIR showing symmetrical WMH and microbleeds with minimal or no perfusion deficit suggests the diagnosis of small vessel disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Ticagrelor is one of the most recent antiplatelet drugs used to treat ischemic heart disease. Its efficacy may equal or exceed aspirin in improving clinical outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke who are ineligible for rt-PA. Aim of the Work: We aimed at evaluating the safety (as a primary endpoint) and efficacy (as a secondary endpoint) of a 180 mg loading dose of ticagrelor given within 9 h from the onset of first-ever ischemic stroke. Methods: We conducted an open-label, randomized prospective controlled clinical trial between May 2019 and September 2020 on patients who presented with their first-ever ischemic stroke and were recruited from the emergency department, of Kafr el-sheik University Hospitals, Egypt. Eligible patients randomly received aspirin or ticagrelor loading and maintenance doses. Treatment began within 9 h of stroke onset. Results: Aspirin was given to 84 patients; ticagrelor was given to 85. There was no significant difference between the 2 groups regarding the hemorrhagic and nonhemorrhagic complications. Patients who received ticagrelor had a better outcome regarding NIHSS improvement at 2 days and 1 week or discharge and a favorable mRS score after 1 week or discharge and at 90-day follow-up. Conclusion: Ticagrelor was noninferior to aspirin regarding safety profile. Compared with aspirin, ticagrelor had a better clinical outcome based on NIHSS and mRS in first-ever acute ischemic stroke patients who received it within 9 h from symptom onset, leading to a shorter hospital stay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: High-quality data on time of stroke onset and time of hospital arrival is required for proper evaluation of points of delay that might hinder access to medical care after the onset of stroke symptoms. Purpose: Based on (SITS Dataset) in Egyptian stroke patients, we aimed to explore factors related to time of onset versus time of hospital arrival for acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Material and methods: We included 1,450 AIS patients from two stroke centers of Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt. We divided the day to four quarters and evaluated relationship between different factors and time of stroke onset and time of hospital arrival. The factors included: age, sex, duration from stroke onset to hospital arrival, type of management, type of stroke (TOAST classification), National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) on admission and favorable outcome modified Rankin Scale (mRS ≤2). Results: Pre-hospital: highest stroke incidence was in the first and fourth quarters. There was no significant difference in the mean age, sex, type of stroke in relation to time of onset. NIHSS was significantly less in onset in third quarter of the day. Percentage of patients who received thrombolytic therapy was higher with onset in the first 2 quarters of the day (p = <0.001). In-hospital: there was no difference in percentage of patients who received thrombolytic therapy nor in outcome across 4 quarters of arrival to hospital. Conclusion: Pre-hospital factors still need adjustment to improve percentage of thrombolysis, while in-hospital factors showed consistent performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: MRI Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) lesion volume, pattern, and location have all been used to predict outcome of acute ischemic stroke. We hypothesized that homogeneity within the DWI lesion may also be associated with outcome. Methods: Brain MRI including DWI was performed for consecutive acute ischemic stroke patients within 48 h of onset. Patients were classified as having a homogenous or non-homogenous (heterogeneous) DWI lesion visually. NIHSS was recorded at baseline, 1 week and at 1 month. Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score was assessed at 3 months. Results: Fifteen patients were recruited to each group (homogenous and non-homogenous DWI lesion). There were no significant differences at baseline (p > 0.05). Patients with a homogenous DWI lesion had significantly higher mRS score at 3 months (worse outcome) than those with a non-homogenous (heterogeneous) DWI lesion (median, IQR 4, 2-4 vs. 1, 0-2 respectively, p = 0.001). On repeated measures ANOVA, NIHSS was significantly worse at 1 week and 1 month in patients with a homogenous DWI lesion. Conclusion: Lesion homogeneity on early MR DWI is a simple and reproducible visual assessment that may be a strong marker of outcome in acute ischemic stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The rate of alteplase (tPA) thrombolysis utilization in acute stroke in Egypt is <1%. We report on the causes of this low rate of reperfusion therapies and take corrective action to improve it. Methods Two prospective observational studies were conducted at Ain Shams University hospitals. The first included 269 acute stroke patients admitted to the hospital over a six-month period. Obstacles to reperfusion therapy were identified, and based on the results, a corrective action plan was implemented including making alteplase(tPA) available, training, and establishing a standardized local protocol for reperfusion therapy. A second study was then conducted that included 284 acute ischemic stroke patients over another six-month period. Results In the first study, 53/269 patients (19.7%) arrived at hospital within 4.5 h and were eligible for reperfusion therapy. Of those, seven (13.2%) received alteplase(tPA), representing 2.6% of the total ischemic stroke patients admitted. The main causes for not giving thrombolytic therapy was unavailability of alteplase(tPA) (56.5%), wrong treatment decision (17.4%), missed window while performing brain imaging (15%), and unavailability of intermediate care bed (10.9%). The second study showed that out of 284 cases admitted with acute ischemic stroke, 37 were eligible for thrombolysis and 35 received alteplase(tPA) (94.3%), representing 12.3% of the total ischemic stroke admissions. Conclusion A comprehensive action plan that centers around making the drug available and training resulted in a significant improvement of reperfusion therapy utilization in Egypt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Intravenous thrombolytic therapy remains the guideline-recommended treatment to improve outcomes after acute ischemic stroke. However, the functional outcome among patients with acute ischemic stroke after receiving intravenous thrombolytic therapy is influenced by huge variety of factors, and this was the aim of our study to evaluate the outcome predictors of intravenous thrombolytic therapy in a sample of Egyptian patients with acute ischemic stroke. Methods: We enrolled 183 acute ischemic stroke patients who were treated with intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (IV rtPA) according to the last updated guidelines of American Heart Association and American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA) from February 2018 to February 2020; however, only 150 patients of them completed our study plan till the end. Data of study variables were collected, analyzed statistically and correlated with the functional outcome 3 months after receiving IV rtPA using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS). Results: Good functional outcome was seen in 98 (65.3%) patients and poor functional outcome was seen in 52 (34.7%) patients. Multivariate analysis of the study variables was done to detect the significant independent predictors of the functional outcome. Atrial fibrillation (AF) (P value < 0.001*OR 6.28* (95% C.I)), hypertension (P value 0.001*OR 3.65*(95% C.I)), diabetes mellitus (DM) (P value 0.009*OR 2.805*(95% C.I)), increased National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score 24 h after receiving IV rtPA (P value 0.003* OR 8.039* (95% C.I)), increased pulsatility index (PI) value in cerebral vessels at the same side of stroke lesion (P value 0.038* OR 42.48*(95% C.I)) were the significant independent predictors of poor functional outcome. On the other hand decreased NIHSS score 24 h after receiving IV rtPA (P value 0.003* OR 0.124*(95% C.I)), Normal value of PI in cerebral vessels at the same side of stroke lesion (P value 0.038* OR 42.48*(95% C.I)) were the significant independent predictors of good functional outcome. Conclusion: Intravenous thrombolytic therapy improves the functional outcome of acute ischemic stroke patients. Also, AF, hypertension, DM, NIHSS 24 h after receiving IV rtPA and PI could be used as independent predictors of the functional outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]