Hyperdense middle cerebral artery sign and outcome after intravenous thrombolysis for acute ischemic stroke.
BACKGROUND
The presence of a hyperdense middle cerebral artery sign (HMCAS) on baseline brain CT is associated with poor clinical outcome in stroke patients treated with intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). It remains uncertain whether the presence of HMCAS is associated with acute neurological deterioration after tPA treatment.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of HMCAS in routinely intravenous tPA-treated patients with anterior circulation stroke on acute neurological deterioration, the 3-month functional outcome and the occurrence of symptomatic ICH.


METHODS
We analyzed data from a single stroke unit registry of 384 consecutive patients with anterior circulation infarction, treated with intravenous tPA. Logistic regression models were used to assess if HMCAS was independently associated with predefined outcome definitions.


RESULTS
We found a HMCAS in 104 patients (27%). The HMCAS was related to the risk of early neurological deterioration (p=0.04) and poor functional outcome (p<0.001) on univariate analysis. The incidence of symptomatic ICH was not significantly different between patients with and without HMCAS (7% versus 6%, p=0.81). In the multivariable analysis, the presence of HMCAS was significantly associated with a poor outcome (p=0.004).


CONCLUSIONS
The HMCAS is associated with early neurological deterioration and poor functional outcome, but not with symptomatic ICH.
Aries
M J H
MJ
Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. m.j.h.aries@neuro.umcg.nl
Uyttenboogaart
M
M
Koopman
K
K
Rödiger
L A
LA
Vroomen
P C
PC
De Keyser
J
J
Luijckx
G J
GJ
D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects; D020520:Brain Infarction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D020768:Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000187:drug effects; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012042:Registries; D020521:Stroke / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy; D013997:Time Factors; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator