Analysis of the Association between Telomere Length and Neurological Disability in Stroke Types.

: The association between neurological disability, prognosis, and telomere length (TL) in patients with stroke has been investigated in various ways. However, analysis of the type of stroke and ischemic stroke subgroups is limited. In this study, we aimed to determine the association between TL and neurological disability according to stroke type.

Percutaneous Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion Yields Favorable Neurological Outcomes in Patients with Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation.

Background And Objectives: Prior studies have shown that stroke patients treated with percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) for non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) experience better outcomes than similar patients treated with warfarin. We investigated the impact of percutaneous left atrial appendage closure on post-stroke neurological outcomes in NVAF patients, compared with non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant (NOAC) therapy.

Methods: Medical records for 1,427 patients in multiple registries and for 1,792 consecutive patients at 6 Korean hospitals were reviewed with respect to LAAO or NOAC treatment.

Effects of dabigatran and rivaroxaban on stroke severity according to the results of routine coagulation tests.

Introduction: Prior use of direct oral anticoagulants has been associated with reduced stroke severity in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) on stroke severity in patients who were receiving dabigatran or rivaroxaban at the time of stroke onset.

Materials And Methods: We enrolled 107 patients with NVAF who developed acute ischemic stroke while on dabigatran or rivaroxaban and presented within 24 hours to nine hospitals between January 2014 and December 2018.

Advanced Liver Fibrosis Predicts Unfavorable Long-Term Prognosis in First-Ever Ischemic Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack.

Introduction: There are a limited number of studies investigating the relationship between the degree of liver fibrosis and the long-term prognosis, especially ischemic stroke (IS) recurrence, in first-ever IS or transient ischemic attack (TIA).

Objective: We investigated whether there are differences in the long-term all-cause and cardiovascular mortalities and IS recurrence based on the degree of liver fibrosis in first-ever IS or TIA.

Methods: This analysis included 2,504 patients with first-ever IS or TIA recruited from a prospective stroke cohort.

Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity for predicting functional outcomes in patients with cryptogenic stroke.

Even after extensive standard evaluation, the probable cause of stroke in some patients remains unclear; this condition is defined as cryptogenic stroke (CS). The prognosis of patients with CS is largely undetermined. We investigated whether higher brachial-ankle pulse wave velocities (baPWVs) can predict poor functional outcomes at 3 months after stroke onset in these patients.

Mechanical Thrombectomy in Subtypes of Basilar Artery Occlusion: Relationship to Recanalization Rate and Clinical Outcome.

Background Acute stroke because of basilar artery occlusion (BAO) represents 1% of all ischemic strokes. However, recanalization rates and treatment outcome for the different pathologic subtypes of BAO stroke are not fully understood. Purpose To compare the recanalization rate and clinical outcomes of mechanical thrombectomy in different subtypes of BAO.

Liver Fibrosis, Not Steatosis, Associates with Long-Term Outcomes in Ischaemic Stroke Patients.

Background: To investigate whether there are differences in long-term all-cause and cardiovascular mortality according to the burden of liver fibrosis or steatosis in patients with ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA). -Methods: Consecutive patients with acute ischaemic stroke or TIA who underwent transient elastography (TE) from January 2014 to December 2014 were considered eligible. The influence of liver fibrosis or steatosis, assessed via TE, on long-term outcomes was investigated using Cox proportional hazard models.

Impact of Non-vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulant Withdrawal on Stroke Outcomes.

Discontinuation of oral anticoagulants such as non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) may induce a hypercoagulable state, leading to severe stroke and poor outcomes. This study aimed to compare stroke outcomes between NOACs withdrawal and other prior medication statuses in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). Consecutive patients who had pre-existing NVAF and were admitted for an acute ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack- at five hospitals between January 2013 and December 2016 were included.

Prediction of functional outcome using the novel asymmetric middle cerebral artery index in cryptogenic stroke patients.

Background: Etiology is unknown in approximately one-quarter of stroke patients after evaluation, which is termed cryptogenic stroke (CS). The prognosis of CS patients is largely undetermined. We created a novel index from transcranial Doppler parameters including mean flow velocity (MV) and pulsatility index (PI) and investigated whether the calculation of asymmetry in the novel parameter can predict functional outcomes in CS patients.

Stroke Severity in Patients on Non-Vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulants with a Standard or Insufficient Dose.

Background:  The stroke severity or functional outcomes could differ because the efficacy of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) could be different according to the dose. We investigated whether there was any difference in the stroke outcomes in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) by their prior medication status, including standard-dosed versus under-dosed NOACs.

Materials And Methods:  We enrolled 858 patients with acute ischaemic stroke with chronic NVAF admitted at six hospitals in Korea.

Differential impact of white matter hyperintensities on long-term outcomes in ischemic stroke patients with large artery atherosclerosis.

Background: The presence of white matter hyperintensity (WMH) is related to poor long-term outcomes in stroke patients. However, the long-term outcome is unknown in patients with both large artery atherosclerosis (LAA) and WMH.

Methods: We investigated the impact of WMH on long-term outcome in patients with LAA.