Comparison of eight prehospital stroke scales to detect intracranial large-vessel occlusion in suspected stroke (PRESTO): a prospective observational study.

Background: Due to the time-sensitive effect of endovascular treatment, rapid prehospital identification of large-vessel occlusion in individuals with suspected stroke is essential to optimise outcome. Interhospital transfers are an important cause of delay of endovascular treatment. Prehospital stroke scales have been proposed to select patients with large-vessel occlusion for direct transport to an endovascular-capable intervention centre.

PAIS 2 (Paracetamol [Acetaminophen] in Stroke 2): Results of a Randomized, Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.

Background And Purpose: Subfebrile body temperature and fever in the first days after stroke are strongly associated with unfavorable outcome. A subgroup analysis of a previous trial suggested that early treatment with paracetamol may improve functional outcome in patients with acute stroke and a body temperature of ≥36.5°C.

Paracetamol (Acetaminophen) in stroke 2 (PAIS 2): protocol for a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial to assess the effect of high-dose paracetamol on functional outcome in patients with acute stroke and a body temperature of 36.5 °C or above.

Rationale: In the first hours after stroke onset, subfebrile temperatures and fever have been associated with poor functional outcome. In the first Paracetamol (Acetaminophen) in Stroke trial, a randomized clinical trial of 1400 patients with acute stroke, patients who were treated with high-dose paracetamol showed more improvement on the modified Rankin Scale at three-months than patients treated with placebo, but this difference was not statistically significant. In the 661 patients with a baseline body temperature of 37.

[Does paracetamol improve recovery after stroke?].

An increase in body temperature in the first days following stroke is related to poor functional outcome. High-dose paracetamol (acetaminophen) reduces the body temperature by 0.3°C and can prevent fever.

Health education in patients with a recent stroke or transient ischaemic attack: a comprehensive review.

Health education aims at the acquisition of skills and attitudes to modify behaviour that influences health, leads to a modification of risk factors and ultimately to a decrease in disability and case fatality from stroke. Health education is an underdeveloped but important aspect of stroke care. Health education could promote compliance and healthy behaviour, improve patients' understanding of their health status and treatment options and facilitate communication.

Prevention with low-dose aspirin plus dipyridamole in patients with disabling stroke.

Background And Purpose: The combination of low-dose aspirin and dipyridamole is more effective than aspirin alone in reducing the risk of recurrent stroke and other major cardiovascular events in patients with a recent transient ischemic attack or minor stroke. It is unknown whether this also applies to patients with a disabling stroke.

Methods: We reanalyzed the data of 5700 patients from ESPRIT and ESPS-2 to study the effect of aspirin and dipyridamole according to modified Rankin scale (mRS) score at baseline.

Prediction of major vascular events in patients with transient ischemic attack or ischemic stroke: a comparison of 7 models.

Background And Purpose: In patients with a recent TIA or minor stroke, prediction of long-term risk of major vascular events is important, but difficult. We aimed to study the external validity of currently available prediction models.

Methods: We validated predictions from 3 population-based models (Framingham, SCORE, and INDIANA project) and 4 stroke cohort-based models (Stroke Prognosis Instrument II, Oxford TIA, Dutch TIA study, and the ABCD(2) study) in an independent cohort of patients with a recent TIA or minor stroke.

Patients enrolled in large randomized clinical trials of antiplatelet treatment for prevention after transient ischemic attack or ischemic stroke are not representative of patients in clinical practice: the Netherlands Stroke Survey.

Background And Purpose: Many randomized clinical trials have evaluated the benefit of long-term use of antiplatelet drugs in reducing the risk of new vascular events in patients with a recent transient ischemic attack or ischemic stroke. Evidence from these trials forms the basis for national and international guidelines for the management of nearly all such patients in clinical practice. However, abundant and strict enrollment criteria may limit the validity and the applicability of results of randomized clinical trials to clinical practice.

Knowledge and understanding of disease process, risk factors and treatment modalities in patients with a recent TIA or minor ischemic stroke.

Background: Patients with acute stroke often have a striking lack of knowledge of causes, warning signs, and risk factors. Lack of knowledge may lead to inappropriate secondary prevention behavior. We investigated the knowledge of patients with a TIA or minor stroke about specific aspects of their disease 3 months after the event.