Utility of AL score in acute ischemic stroke patient triage: the "H.uni" experience.

Background And Aims: Two or more National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) points on each motor items (AL score) have shown good accuracy in predicting large vessel occlusion (LVO) in the prehospital setting of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) care. We aimed to study this score for LVO prediction in our stroke network and predictors of poor outcome (PO) after mechanical thrombectomy (MT).

Methods: From our Safe Implementation of Thrombolysis in Stroke (SITS) registry including patients receiving reperfusion therapy for AIS, we retrospectively computed the AL score from the admission NIHSS to test the diagnostic accuracy for LVO prediction.

Smartphone-based atrial fibrillation screening in the general population: feasibility and impact on medical treatment.

Aims: The aim of this study is to determine the feasibility, detection rate, and therapeutic implications of large-scale smartphone-based screening for atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods And Results: Subjects from the general population in Belgium were recruited through a media campaign to perform AF screening during 8 consecutive days with a smartphone application. The application analyses photoplethysmography traces with artificial intelligence and offline validation of suspected signals to detect AF.

Safety and Outcome of Revascularization Treatment in Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke and COVID-19: The Global COVID-19 Stroke Registry.

Background And Objectives: COVID-19-related inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and coagulopathy may increase the bleeding risk and lower the efficacy of revascularization treatments in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). We aimed to evaluate the safety and outcomes of revascularization treatments in patients with AIS and COVID-19.

Methods: This was a retrospective multicenter cohort study of consecutive patients with AIS receiving intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) and/or endovascular treatment (EVT) between March 2020 and June 2021 tested for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection.

The impact of COVID-19 on acute stroke care in Belgium.

A worldwide decline in stroke hospitalizations during the COVID-19 pandemic has been reported. Information on stroke care during the pandemic in Belgium is lacking. This study aims to analyze the impact of COVID-19 on acute stroke care in eight Belgian stroke centers.

Vitamin K antagonists-associated cerebral hemorrhages: what are their characteristics?

Background And Purpose: The high prevalence of atrial fibrillation in aging populations leads to an increasing incidence of vitamin K antagonists-associated intracerebral hemorrhages (VKAs-ICH). It remains unclear whether VKAs are causes or risk factors for ICH. We aimed at identifying the specificities of VKAs-ICH.

Intravenous thrombolysis in stroke attributable to cervical artery dissection.

Background And Purpose: Intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) for stroke seems to be beneficial independent of the underlying etiology. Whether this is also true for cervical artery dissection (CAD) is addressed in this study.

Methods: We used the Swiss IVT databank to compare outcome and complications of IVT-treated patients with CAD with IVT-treated patients with other etiologies (non-CAD patients).

Intra-cerebral haemorrhages: are there any differences in baseline characteristics and intra-hospital mortality between hospitaland population-based registries?

A better understanding of the natural history of intracerebral haemorrhages (ICH) with cohorts representing the whole spectrum of the disease is necessary to improve treatment. Our aim was to identify potential differences in baseline characteristics and short-term outcomes of patients with non-traumatic ICH, included in a hospital- and in a population-based stroke registry. We compared 373 patients recruited in a university hospital and the last 373 ICH patients included in a population-based registry.