Burden of incidental cerebral aneurysms on lifestyle and quality of life: a survey of patients in expectant management (the SPICE Study).

Background: The increasing availability of neuroimaging tests has led to a rise in the identification of incidental unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs). Their management is under debate, with no consensus on their follow-up strategy, which can cause anxiety in patients. Our aim is to evaluate the impact of diagnosis and imaging follow-up on daily activities and quality of life.

External Validation of SAFE Score to Predict Atrial Fibrillation Diagnosis after Ischemic Stroke: A Retrospective Multicenter Study.

Introduction: The screening for atrial fibrillation (AF) scale (SAFE score) was recently developed to provide a prediction of the diagnosis of AF after an ischemic stroke. It includes 7 items: ≥ 65 years, bronchopathy, thyroid disease, cortical location of stroke, intracranial large vessel occlusion, NT-ProBNP ≥250 pg/mL, and left atrial enlargement. In the internal validation, a good performance was obtained, with an = 0.

Experience and insights from a prolonged electrocardiographic monitorization with a wearable system after an embolic stroke of unknown source.

Background: Embolic cerebrovascular events that remain of unknown etiology after a thorough diagnostic evaluation, are known as Embolic Strokes of Undetermined Source (ESUS). Subclinical atrial fibrillation (AF) represents a significant underlying cause of ESUS. Our aims were to examine the overall diagnostic yield of a prolonged cardiac monitoring wearable system (PCMw) after an ESUS to detect AF and factors associated with it, including the time frame from the ESUS event to PCMw initiation.

Neutrophil β adrenoceptor blockade blunts stroke-associated neuroinflammation.

Background And Purpose: Reperfusion therapy is the standard of care for ischaemic stroke; however, there is a need to identify new therapeutic targets able to ameliorate cerebral damage. Neutrophil β adrenoceptors (β1AR) have been linked to neutrophil migration during exacerbated inflammation. Given the central role of neutrophils in cerebral damage during stroke, we hypothesize that β1AR blockade will improve stroke outcomes.

Fewer COVID-19-associated strokes and reduced severity during the second COVID-19 wave: The Madrid Stroke Network.

Background And Purpose: The experience gained during the first COVID-19 wave could have mitigated the negative impact on stroke care in the following waves. Our aims were to analyze the characteristics and outcomes of patients with stroke admitted during the second COVID-19 wave and to evaluate the differences in the stroke care provision compared with the first wave.

Methods: This retrospective multicenter cohort study included consecutive stroke patients admitted to any of the seven hospitals with stroke units (SUs) and endovascular treatment facilities in the Madrid Health Region.

[High frequency of endoluminal thrombus in patients with ischaemic stroke following COVID-19].

Background: Ischaemic stroke may be a major complication of SARS-CoV-2 infection.Studying and characterising the different aetiological subtypes, clinical characteristics, and functional outcomes may be valuable in guiding patient selection for optimal management and treatment.

Methods: Data were collected retrospectively on consecutive patients with COVID-19 who developed acute focal brain ischaemia (between 1 March and 19 April 2020) at a tertiary university hospital in Madrid (Spain).

Prehospital selection of thrombectomy candidates beyond large vessel occlusion: M-DIRECT scale.

Objective: Current prehospital scales used to detect large vessel occlusion reveal very low endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) rates among selected patients. We developed a novel prehospital scale, the Madrid-Direct Referral to Endovascular Center (M-DIRECT), to identify EVT candidates for direct transfer to EVT-capable centers (EVT-Cs). The scale evaluated clinical examination, systolic blood pressure, and age.

Incidence and Predictive Factors of Hidden Atrial Fibrillation Detected by Implantable Loop Recorder After an Embolic Stroke of Undetermined Source.

Background: The term embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS) has been defined for patients with ischemic strokes, where neither a cardioembolic nor a non-cardiac source can be detected. These patients may have asymptomatic episodes of atrial fibrillation (AF). Prolonged monitoring with implantable loop recorder (ILR) and daily remote interrogation in patients after an ESUS has shown an incidence of AF of about 25%.

[Multiple coronary embolisms in a woman with risk factors for thromboembolic disease].

We report the case of a 33-years-old woman, smoker and taking oral contraceptives, who presented to the emergency room with an anterior ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Thrombolytic treatment was initiated and a few minutes after, chest pain returned and an inferior ST-segment-elevation infarction was diagnosed at that moment. Catheterization revealed multiple embolic occlusion of coronary branches.