Circulating collagen breakdown products as a biomarker for presence and instability of human intracranial aneurysms.

Introduction: There is an unmet need for improved detection of intracranial aneurysms (IAs) and distinction between stable and unstable (high rupture risk) IAs. Within the IA wall, synthesis and degradation of type I collagen as the main molecular constituent balance each other to maintain IA stability. We hypothesized that collagen breakdown products could serve as molecular markers for IA presence and instability.

Impact of time to start of tranexamic acid treatment on rebleed risk and outcome in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Introduction: The ULTRA-trial investigated effectiveness of ultra-early administration of tranexamic acid (TXA) in subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and showed that TXA reduces the risk of rebleeding without concurrent improvement in clinical outcome. Previous trials in bleeding conditions, distinct from SAH, have shown that time to start of antifibrinolytic treatment influences outcome. This post-hoc analysis of the ULTRA-trial investigates whether the interval between hemorrhage and start of TXA impacts the effect of TXA on rebleeding and functional outcome following aneurysmal SAH.

Aneurysm treatment within 6 h versus 6-24 h after rupture in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Background: The risk of rebleeding after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) is the highest during the initial hours after rupture. Emergency aneurysm treatment may decrease this risk, but is a logistic challenge and economic burden. We aimed to investigate whether aneurysm treatment <6 h after rupture is associated with a decreased risk of poor functional outcome compared to aneurysm treatment 6-24 h after rupture.

Safety and pharmacodynamic efficacy of eculizumab in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (CLASH): A phase 2a randomized clinical trial.

Introduction: Complement C5 antibodies reduce brain injury after experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Patients And Methods: In this randomized, controlled, open-label, phase 2a clinical trial with blinded-outcome assessment, we included adult aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) patients admitted to a tertiary referral center ⩽11 h after ictus. Patients were randomized (1:1) to eculizumab plus care as usual or to care as usual.

Screening for intracranial aneurysms in persons ⩾35 years with hypertension and atherosclerotic disease who smoke(d).

Introduction: Lifetime risk of aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (aSAH) is high (7%) in persons ⩾35 years with hypertension who smoke(d). Whether screening for intracranial aneurysms (IAs) to prevent aSAH is effective in these patients is unknown.

Patients And Methods: Participants were retrieved from a cohort of patients with clinically manifest atherosclerotic vascular disease included between 2012 and 2019 at the University Medical Centre Utrecht (SMART-ORACLE, NCT01932671) in whom CT-angiography (CTA) of intracranial arteries was performed.

Validation of the German version of the subarachnoid haemorrhage outcome tool (SAHOT).

Objective: The subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) outcome tool (SAHOT) is the first SAH-specific patient reported outcome measure, and was developed in the UK. We aimed to validate the SAHOT outside the UK, and therefore endeavored to adapt the SAHOT into German and to test its psychometric properties.

Methods: We adapted and pilot tested the German version.

Antifibrinolytic therapy for aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage.

Background: Rebleeding is an important cause of death and disability in people with aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage. Rebleeding is probably related to the dissolution of the blood clot at the site of the aneurysm rupture by natural fibrinolytic activity. This review is an update of previously published Cochrane Reviews.

European Stroke Organisation (ESO) guidelines on management of unruptured intracranial aneurysms.

Unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIA) occur in around 3% of the population. Important management questions concern if and how to perform preventive UIA occlusion; if, how and when to perform follow up imaging and non-interventional means to reduce the risk of rupture. Using the Standard Operational Procedure of ESO we prepared guidelines according to GRADE methodology.

Development of a questionnaire to identify persons with a family history of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Background: Preventive screening for intracranial aneurysms is effective in persons with a positive family history of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH), but for many relatives of aSAH patients, it can be difficult to assess whether their relative had an aSAH or another type of stroke.

Aim: We aimed to develop a family history questionnaire for people in the population who believe they have a first-degree relative who had a stroke and to assess its accuracy to identify relatives of aSAH patients.

Methods: A questionnaire to distinguish between aSAH and other stroke types (ischemic stroke and intracerebral hemorrhage) was developed by a team of clinicians and consumers.

Preventive screening for intracranial aneurysms.

Background: Subarachnoid hemorrhage from rupture of an intracranial aneurysm (aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage) is a devastating subset of stroke. Since brain damage from the initial hemorrhage is a major cause for the poor outcome after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, prevention of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage has the highest potential to prevent poor outcome from aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Aim: In this review, we describe the groups at high risk of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage who may benefit from preventive screening for unruptured intracranial aneurysms followed by preventive treatment of unruptured intracranial aneurysms found.

Long-term prognosis after intracerebral haemorrhage.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to determine the risk of recurrent intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH), ischaemic stroke, all stroke, any vascular event and all-cause mortality in 30-day survivors of ICH, according to age and sex.

Patients And Methods: We linked national hospital discharge, population and cause of death registers to obtain a cohort of Dutch 30-day survivors of ICH from 1998 to 2010. We calculated cumulative incidences of recurrent ICH, ischaemic stroke, all stroke and composite vascular outcome, adjusted for competing risk of death and all-cause mortality.

Preventable poor outcome from rebleeding by emergency aneurysm occlusion in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage.

Introduction: The risk of rebleeding is highest during the initial hours after aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (aSAH), but the aneurysm is not occluded in all patients immediately after admission.Our aim was to determine the proportion of aSAH patients with poor outcome from early in-hospital rebleeding that can be prevented by three emergency aneurysm occlusion regimes.

Patients And Methods: From our prospectively collected database, we retrieved from all aSAH patients admitted between July 2007 and July 2017 data on clinical condition on admission, time of rebleeding, and outcome at 3 months.

Consensus statements and recommendations from the ESO-Karolinska Stroke Update Conference, Stockholm 11-13 November 2018.

The purpose of the European Stroke Organisation-Karolinska Stroke Update Conference is to provide updates on recent stroke therapy research and to give an opportunity for the participants to discuss how these results may be implemented into clinical routine. The meeting started 22 years ago as Karolinska Stroke Update, but since 2014 it is a joint conference with European Stroke Organisation. Importantly, it provides a platform for discussion on the European Stroke Organisation guidelines process and on recommendations to the European Stroke Organisation guidelines committee on specific topics.

Aneurysm characteristics and risk of rebleeding after subarachnoid haemorrhage.

Introduction: Knowledge of risk factors for rebleeding after aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage can help tailoring ultra-early aneurysm treatment. Previous studies have identified aneurysm size and various patient-related risk factors for early (≤24 h) rebleeding, but it remains unknown if aneurysm configuration is also a risk factor. We investigated whether irregular shape, aspect- and bottleneck ratio of the aneurysm are independent risk factors for early rebleeding after aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage.

Contrast leakage distant from the hematoma in patients with spontaneous ICH: A 7 T MRI study.

Disruption of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) might play a role in the pathophysiology of cerebral small vessel disease-related ICH. The aim of this study was to assess presence and extent of contrast agent leakage distant from the hematoma as a marker of BBB disruption in patients with spontaneous ICH. We prospectively performed 7 tesla MRI in adult patients with spontaneous ICH and assessed contrast leakage distant from the hematoma on 3D FLAIR images.

Radiosurgical, neurosurgical, or no intervention for cerebral cavernous malformations: A decision analysis.

Introduction: We aimed to evaluate the preferred treatment strategy for patients with symptomatic cerebral cavernous malformations (CCM).

Methods: In a decision model, we compared neurosurgical, radiosurgical, and conservative management. A literature review yielded the risks and outcomes of interventions, intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), and seizures.

Endovascular coiling versus neurosurgical clipping for people with aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage.

Background: Around 30% of people who are admitted to hospital with aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) will rebleed in the initial month after the haemorrhage if the aneurysm is not treated. The two most commonly used methods to occlude the aneurysm for prevention of rebleeding are microsurgical clipping of the neck of the aneurysm and occlusion of the lumen of the aneurysm by means of endovascular coiling. This is an update of a systematic review that was previously published in 2005.

Prospective Randomized Open-label Trial to evaluate risk faCTor management in patients with Unruptured intracranial aneurysms: Study protocol.

Rationale: Unruptured intracranial aneurysms are currently left untreated if the presumed complication risk of preventive endovascular or neurosurgical intervention is higher than the risk of rupture. Aneurysm wall inflammation and blood pressure are attractive modifiable risk factors of aneurysm rupture and growth.

Aim: To investigate in patients with an unruptured intracranial aneurysm who do not qualify for preventive endovascular or neurosurgical intervention whether a treatment strategy of acetylsalicylic acid 100 mg/day plus intensive blood pressure treatment (targeted systolic blood pressure < 120 mmHg, monitored with a home blood pressure measuring device) reduces the risk of aneurysm rupture or growth compared with care as usual (no acetylsalicylic acid, targeted office systolic blood pressure < 140 mmHg, no home blood pressure measuring device).

Hospital case-volume is associated with case-fatality after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Background: Inverse association between hospital case-volume and case-fatality has been observed for various nonsurgical interventions and surgical procedures.

Aims: To study the impact of hospital case-volume on outcome after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH).

Methods: We included aSAH patients who underwent aneurysm coiling or clipping from tertiary care medical centers across three continents using the Dr Foster Stroke GOAL database 2007-2014.

Magnetic resonance imaging and brain injury in the chronic phase after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: A systematic review.

Background Case-fatality rates after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage have decreased over the past decades. However, many patients who survive an aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage have long-term functional and cognitive impairments. Aims We sought to review all data on conventional brain MRI obtained in the chronic phase after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage to (1) analyze the proportion of patients with cerebral infarction or brain volume changes; (2) investigate baseline determinants predictive of MRI-detected damage; and (3) assess if brain damage is predictive of patient outcome.

Relative risk of hemorrhage during pregnancy in patients with brain arteriovenous malformations.

Background It is unclear whether the risk of bleeding from brain arteriovenous malformations is higher during pregnancy, delivery, or puerperium. We compared occurrence of brain arteriovenous malformation hemorrhage in women during this period with occurrence of hemorrhage outside this period during their fertile years. Methods We included all women with ruptured brain arteriovenous malformations (16-41 years) from a retrospective database of patients with brain arteriovenous malformations in four Dutch university hospitals (n = 95) and from the population-based Scottish Audit of Intracranial Vascular Malformations (n = 44).