title: Association of clot burden score with radiographic and clinical outcomes following Solitaire stent retriever thrombectomy: analysis of the SWIFT PRIME trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The clot burden score (CBS) was developed as a tool to evaluate the extent of intracranial thrombus burden in patients with anterior circulation acute ischemic stroke. CBS is based on the presence or absence of contrast opacification on CT angiography (CTA). Its value in predicting radiographic and clinical outcomes in patients given endovascular stroke therapy remains unknown.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the relationship between CBS and outcomes after stent retriever thrombectomy in the interventional arm of the SWIFT PRIME trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  CBS was calculated for the endovascular arm (IV tissue plasminogen activator plus Solitaire stent retriever) of SWIFT PRIME using baseline CTA. The cohort of 69 patients was divided into three groups according to their CBS values: CBS 0-5 (n=14), CBS 6-7 (n=23), and CBS 8-9 (n=32).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of the 69 patients who formed the study cohort was 63.2±13.1 years, mean National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score was 16.8±4.5, and 55% of the patients were male. There was no difference in clinical characteristics among the three groups, except for the baseline Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (p=0.049). The site of proximal occlusion varied significantly among the three groups (p<0.001). Rates of successful recanalization (TICI 2b/3), complete recanalization (TICI 3 only) and of good clinical outcome at 3 months were similar among the three groups (p=0.24, p=0.35, and p=0.52, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combination of IV thrombolysis and stent retriever thrombectomy with the Solitaire device is highly effective in achieving successful recanalization and a good clinical outcome throughout the entire range of CBS values.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: Maxim
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7264-4233
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mokin
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Elad I
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Levy
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Adnan H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Siddiqui
authors.affiliation: Departments of Radiology and Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Mayank
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goyal
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Marcus Stroke and Neuroscience Center, Grady Memorial Hospital, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
authors.forename: Raul G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Nogueira
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine/Jackson Memorial Hospital, Miami, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: Dileep R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Yavagal
authors.affiliation: Division of Neuroradiology and Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Medical Imaging and Department of Surgery, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Vitor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: M Pereira
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Comprehensive Stroke Center, David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA.
authors.forename: Jeffrey L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Saver
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015607:Stents / Q000009:adverse effects; D020521:Stroke / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D017131:Thrombectomy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000639:trends*; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator
keywords: CT Angiography; Stroke; Thrombectomy