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Objectives. Cerebral sinus venous thrombosis (CSVT) is a rare stroke subtype and data regarding prognostic factors to predict outcomes are lacking. Thus, we aimed to identify predictors for outcome among CSVT patients. Materials and Methods. Prospective CSVT databases from four academic medical centers were retrospectively studied. Demographics, clinical presentations, risk factors, radiological, and outcome parameters were compared. Results. Out of 508 patients diagnosed with CSVT, 21 patients (4%) died, and 91 (18.6%) had unfavorable outcome ( mRS ≥ 2 ). Age (55.0 vs. 38.5, p < 0.001 ), hypertension (26% vs. 6%, p < 0.001 ), hyperlipidemia (23% vs. 6%, p < 0.001 ), diabetes (17% vs. 4%, p < 0.001 ), malignancy (35% vs. 11%, p < 0.001 ), absence of headache (51% vs. 78%, p < 0.001 ), focal neurological deficit (54% vs. 19%, p < 0.001 ), and ICH (28% vs. 13%, p < 0.001 ) were all associated with unfavorable outcome. After multivariate analysis malignancy (OR 4.2, p = 0.003 ), the presence of focal neurological deficit (OR 5.2, p < 0.001 ) and the presence of headache upon presentation (OR 0.334, p = 0.018 ) remained significant predictors for favorable outcome. Conclusions. Among CSVT patients, malignancy, focal neurological deficits, and absence of headache at presentation were associated with unfavorable outcomes.

Stroke and small vessel disease cause gait disturbances and falls. The naturally occurring loss-of-function mutation in the C-C chemokine receptor 5 gene (CCR5-Δ32) has recently been reported as a protective factor in post-stroke motor and cognitive recovery. We sought to examine whether it also influences gait and balance measures up to 2 years after stroke.Participants were 575 survivors of first-ever, mild-moderate ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack from the TABASCO prospective study, who underwent a 3 T magnetic resonance imaging at baseline and were examined by a multi-professional team 6, 12 and 24 months after the event, using neurological, neuropsychological and mobility examinations. Gait rhythm and the timing of the gait cycle were measured by force-sensitive insoles. CCR5-Δ32 status and gait measures were available for 335 patients.CCR5-Δ32 carriers (16.4%) had higher gait speed and decreased (better) stride and swing time variability 6 and 12 months after the index event compared to non-carriers (p 0.01 for all). The association remained significant after adjustment for age, gender, education, ethnicity and stroke severity.Significant associations were found between gait measurements and CCR5-Δ32 loss-of-function mutation amongst stroke survivors. This is the first study showing that genetic predisposition may predict long-term gait function after ischaemic stroke.

Background: Lifelong oral anticoagulant (OAC) use is associated with higher intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) risk in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) patients. We aimed to assess the long-term outcomes of left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) in NVAF patients at high baseline ICH risk, as LAAC was FDA-approved for NVAF patients who have a reasonable rationale to seek a nonpharmacological alternative to lifelong OAC use. Methods: We collected baseline and follow up data from consecutive NVAF patients who had LAAC because of either past ICH or finding cerebral microbleeds (CMB) on MRI without ICH (CMB-only). The outcome measures were the occurrence of ICH or acute ischemic stroke (AIS) after LAAC. Results: Out of a total of 644 LAAC performed in a single hospital system between 2015-2022, 142 NVAF patients had LAAC with WATCHMAN because of past ICH or CMB-only. Their mean age was 75.8± 7.6, 41 were female (29%). Mean CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc score was 5.24±1.4. Of the 142 patients, 67 (47.2%) had intraparenchymal hemorrhage (IPH, 52% related to cerebral amyloid angiopathy [CAA]), 19 (13.4%) had non-traumatic subdural hemorrhage (SDH), 36 (25.3%) had traumatic ICH (T-ICH), and 20 (14.08%) were CMB-only (65% with CAA pattern). Eighty-one patients were discharged on OAC (57%) and 133 patients were not taking OAC at 1 year (94%). Over a mean 1.98 years follow up, one patient had recurrent non-traumatic IPH (incidence rate [IR] 0.36 per 100 patient-years), four had traumatic ICH/SDH due to severe falls (IR 1.4%/year), and five had AIS (IR 1.78%/year). Conclusions: In NVAF patients at high ICH risk, our results show a 74% decrease in AIS risk (actual 1.76%/year vs expected 6.8%/year based on CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc). Despite the very high ICH risk population studied including at least 48 CAA patients, only one patient had a recurrent IPH after LAAC. LAAC should be considered in NVAF patients at high ICH risk and studied in RCTs in this cohort.

The use of endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) has dramatically increased in recent years. However, most existing studies used an upper age limit of 80 and data regarding the safety and efficacy of EVT among nonagenarians is still lacking.767 consecutive patients undergoing EVT for large vessel occlusion (LVO) in three participating centers were recruited into a prospective ongoing database. Demographic, clinical and imaging characteristics were documented. Statistical analysis was done to evaluate EVT outcome among nonagenarians compared to younger patients.The current analysis included 41 (5.4%) patients older than 90 years. Compared to younger patients, nonagenarians were more often female (78% versus 50.3%, p ≤ 0.001), had worse baseline mRS scores (2 [0-3] versus 0 [0-2], p 0.001), higher rates of hypertension and hyperlipidemia and a higher admission NIHSS (20 [14-23] versus 16 [11-20], p 0.001). No differences were found between groups regarding the involved vessel, stroke etiology, time from symptoms to door or symptoms to EVT, successful recanalization rates and hemorrhagic transformation rates. Nonagenarians had worse mRS at 90 days (5 [3-6] versus 3 [2-5], p = 0.001), similar discharge NIHSS (5 [1-11] versus 4 [1-11], p = 0.78) and higher mortality rates (36.6% versus 15.8%, p 0.001). All nonagenarians with baseline mRS 4 have died within 90 days. 36.4% of nonagenarian patients with baseline MRS of 3 or less had favorable outcome.This study demonstrates that nonagenarian stroke patients with baseline mRS of 3 or less benefit from EVT with no significant difference in the rate of favorable outcome compared to octogenarians.

Current guidelines advocate intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) prior to endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) for all patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) due to large vessel occlusion (LVO). We evaluated outcomes with and without IVT pretreatment. Our institutional protocols allow AIS patients presenting early (

Background: Current evidence suggest that 25%–33% of stroke-survivors develop post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI). The licensed drug Maraviroc, a CCR5-antagonist, is postulated to act via a neuroprotective mechanism that may offer the potential of preventing progression to vascular dementia. Our hypothesis: Maraviroc may have the potential to augment learning skills and cognitive performance by affecting synaptic plasticity, along with neuro-inflammatory modulation in patients with cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) and PSCI. Design: MARCH is a multi-center, double-blind randomized-control Phase-II trial of Maraviroc 150 or 600 mg/day versus placebo for 12-months in five stroke centers in Israel. Included are patients diagnosed with recent (1–24 months) subcortical stroke who experience mild PSCI and have evidence of white matter lesions and SVD on neuroimaging. Outcomes: Primary outcomes: 1. Change in cognitive scores. 2. Drug related adverse events. Secondary outcomes: change in functional and affective scores, MRI-derived measures, inflammatory markers, carotid atherosclerosis, cerebrospinal-fluid biomarkers in a sub-study. A sample size of 60 in each treatment group and 30 in the placebo group (total – 150 participants) provides 80% power between the treatment and the placebo groups. Conclusions: The results of this work could lead to a novel, readily available, therapeutic avenue to reduce PSCI, and possibly other pathologies. This study will test safety and effectiveness of Maraviroc in limiting cognitive deterioration and/or post stroke cognitive impairment in patients with cerebral small vessel disease. Schedule: First-patient first-visit was May 2021. Recruitment to complete in 2023, follow-up to complete in 2024.