Objective To assess the effect of different thrombolytic agents, and different regimens in acute ischaemic stroke. Methods A systematic review of all the relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was performed. RCTs were identified from the Cochrane Stroke Group trials register, Embase (1980 to 1997), handsearching Japanese and Chinese journals, and personal contact with pharmaceutical companies. We included randomised and quasi-randomised trials in patients with confirmed acute ischaemic stroke comparing different doses of a thrombolytic agent, or different thrombolytic agent, or the same agent given by different routes. Results Eight trials involving 1 334 patients were included. Concealment of allocation was generally adequate. All the trials were conducted in Japan. Different doses (of tissue plasminogen activator or urokinase) were compared in six trials. Different agents (tissue plasminogen activator versus urokinase,or tissue-cultured urokinase versus conventional urokinase) were compared in three trials. Few data were available for functional outcomes. A higher dose of thrombolytic therapy was associated with a five-fold increase in fatal intracranial haernorrhages (odds ratio 5.02, 95% confidence interval 1.56 to 16.18). There was a non-significant trend towards more early deaths or clinically significant intracranial haemorrhages in higher dose group. No difference in late deaths or extra-cranial haemorrhages was shown between low and higher doses. However, very few of these events occurred. No difference was shown between the different thrombolytic agents tested. Conclusions There is not enough evidence to conclude whether lower doses of thrombolytic agents might be safer or more effective than higher doses in acute ischaemic stroke. It is not possible to conclude whether one agent might be better than another, or which route of administration might be best.
Objective To assess the effectiveness and safety of edaravone for acute cerebral infarction. Methods We searched The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials （ Issue 2, 2005 ）, MEDLINE （ 1966 to Aug. 2005）, EMBASE （ till Aug. 2005 ）, the China Biological Medcine Database （ till Aug. 2005 ）, the Chinese Stroke Clinical Trials Database （ till August 2005 ） and the reference lists of related articles. Two reviewers independently selected studies, assessed quahty of studies and extracted data. The RevMan 4.2 software was used for statistical analysis. Results We identified 12 randomized controlled trials, of which 9 （ n = 948 ） were included. The level of methodology quality was B. Since the conventional therapy was different among some studies, the improvement of disability and long-term death rate and incidence of adverse reactions were not included by meta-analysis. Meta-analysis on the improvement of neurological deficit showed a better effectiveness of edaravone than control with statistical significance [ OR2.98, 95% CI （ 1.39,6.39 ） ]. Possible adverse reactions to edaravone included abnormal liver function and skin rash. Conclusions With relatively poor quality of most included trials and small sample size, insufficient evidence is obtained to support the conclusion that edaravone is safe or effective in the treatment of acute cerebral infarction. Further high quality and large sample randomized controlled trials should be carried out.
Objective To assess the appropriateness of Barthel Index (BI) and Modified Rankin Scales (MRS) used as long-term outcome measures in a stroke data register and to investigate the correlation between cutoff points of the two scales in different stroke patients with and without disability. Methods Nine hundred and twelve patients were registered prospectively. BI and MRS were evaluated at the end of 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after stroke onset. The distribution, ceiling effects and floor effects of the two scales were evaluated. A logistic regression model was established to investigate correlation of cutoff points of BI and MRS. Results There were a total of 2 829 evaluation points of BI and MRS. The percentages of patients reaching the maximum scores of BI at the end of 3, 6 and 12 months (54.8％, 62.2％ and 68.3％, respectively) were higher than those of MRS. There was significant correlation between the two scales (Spearman’s correlation coefficient 0.887, P＜0.05), when MRS scores of ≤1 and ≤2 were taken as cutoff points, the corresponding cutoff points of BI score were ≥90 and ≥85, respectively. Conclusions BI has significant ceiling effects when used as long-term outcome measurement in a stroke data register. There was significant correlation between BI and MRS scores. In future clinical studies, an MRS score ≤2 or BI score ≥85 could be used as cutoff points in predicting stroke patients with and without disability.
Objective To identify an evidence-based treatment for a patient with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). Methods We first put forward clinical problems about how to prevent complications and how to treat ruptured aneurysm of aSAH, then searched The Cochrane Library (Issue 4, 2006), Ovid ACP Journal Club (1991 to 2006), Ovid MEDLINE (1966 to 2006), NGC (1998 to 2006) and CBM (1978 to 2006) to identify systematic reviews, randomized controlled trials, controlled clinical trials and treatment guidelines. Results Eleven studies and five guidelines were included. Current evidence indicated that nimodipine was effective for prophylaxis of poor outcome after vasospasm, while tirilazad was not effective in female patients with good grades. The effectiveness of other treatments to prevent complications was not clear. Evidence on the use of antifibrinolytics for the prevention of re-bleeding was inconsistent. If a ruptured aneurysm was considered suitable for both surgical clipping and endovascular coiling, coiling was associated with a better outcome. According to the available evidence and guidelines, considering the patient’s conditions and preferences, nimodipine and antifibrinolytics were administered to prevent complications and her aneurysm was treated by early endovascular embolization. She did not experience vasospasm or re-bleeding during her hospital stay. Short-term follow-up showed a good outcome. Long-term prognostic benefits after endovascular therapy need to be confirmed by prolonged follow-up. Conclusions Therapies based on the best clinical evidence and guidelines should be given to prevent complications and improve outcome for patients after an aSAH.
Objective To make an evidence-based remedy for a patient with cerebral veins and sinuses thrombosis (CVST), who had an unsatisfactory response to routine treatment. Methods We searched the Cochrane Library (Issue 3, 2005), PubMed (1966 to 2005), CNKI (1979 to 2005) and VIP (1989 to 2005) to identify systematic reviews (SRs), randomized controlled trials (RCTs), controlled clinical trials (CCTs) and prospective cohort studies about efficacy and safety of anticoagulants and thrombolysis therapy for CVST. Results We found 1 systematic review, 3 RCTs and 8 prospective cohort studies about anticoagulation therapy and 2 SRs and 1 CCT about thrombolysis therapy. Routine anticoagulation and thrombolysis for patients with CVST are not recommended due to insufficient evidence. Anticoagulation appeared to be safer and could prevent pulmonary embolism. According to the current evidence, the patient’s status and will, anticoagulants were given. His symptoms relieved and he had no subsequent hemorrhages or pulmonary embolism. Conclusion Patients with CVST should receive anticoagulation treatment with monitoring of de novo hemorrhages and the index of hemostasis and coagulation. Large-sample RCTs comparing the effect and safety of anticoagulant with placebo and RCTs comparing the effect and safety of anticoagulation therapy with that of endovascular thrombolysis therapy in high-risk patients are needed.
Objective The primary objective was to determine whether Danshen agents can improve functional outcome without causing undue harm in patients with acute ischaemic stroke. Secondary objectives were to assess the effect of Danshen agents on impairment and on the quality of life. Methods Searches were performed in the Cochrane Stroke Group Specialized Trial Register, Trials Register of the Cochrane Complementary Medicine Field, Chinese Stroke Trials Register and data from the pharmaceutical company. In addition, we searched the electronic bibliographic databases: Cochrane Controlled Trials Register (CENTRAL/CCTR) Issue 1, 2002, MEDLINE (1996 to 2002), EMBASE (1980 to 2002), China Biological Medicine Database (1978 to 2002). We handsearched ten Chinese journals potentially related to our question. Two reviewers selected studies, assessed quality of studies, extracted data independently. The primary outcomes of death or dependency at the end of long term follow-up(at least three months) and adverse events were assessed. Secondary outcome measures included: measures of neurological deficit at the end of treatment, death from all causes within the first two weeks of treatment and during the whole follow-up period and quality of life. Results Eight potentially eligible trials were identified, of which three trials (304 patients) were included. Two trials were excluded and three trials were waiting for assessment. Number of death and dependency at the end of long term follow-up (at least three months) were not reported in the three included trials. Only one trial reported the adverse events. Three trials measured neurological deficit at the end of treatment. Danshen agents were associated with a significant improvement in neurological deficit (RR 1.07, 95%CI 1.01 to 1.14). There was no death and during the whole treatment period and there was no assessment on quality of life. Conlusions There were too few patients and outcome events to draw reliable conclusions from the present data. The methodological quality of all included studies was poor. Further high quality randomised controlled trials should be performed.
A large amount of research evidence has shown a correlation between cerebral infarction and malignant tumors, and malignant-tumor-related embolic stroke is the main type of malignant-tumor-related cerebral infarction. Hypercoagulation is considered to be the main mechanism. However, due to the complexity of the pathogenesis, the optimal diagnosis, treatment, and prevention strategies remain unclear. This review summarizes the published literature on the concepts, mechanisms, clinical manifestations, laboratory and imaging examinations, treatment and prevention of malignant-tumor-related embolic cerebral infarction, to clearly understand this disease and provide ideas for early recognition, reasonable diagnosis and treatment, improvement of prognosis, and further research of this disease.
Objective To explore the association between C-reactive protein (CRP) change and the prognosis of patients with stroke. Methods Individuals who were diagnosed with stroke from the 2011 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) registry were included. The baseline characteristics in 2011, blood tests in 2011 and 2015, and follow-up data in 2018 were collected. The patients were divided into three groups according to their CPR change from 2011 to 2015, and the cut-off values of CRP change were 0 and 5 mg/L. Logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the association between CRP change and the risk of death after stroke. Results A total of 1065 participants diagnosed in 2011 were enrolled. There were 383 participants in the CRP decreased group (CRP change ranging from –74.30 to –0.01 mg/L), 584 participants in the CRP stable group (CRP change ranging from 0 to 4.98 mg/L), and 98 participants in the CRP increased group (CRP change ranging from 5.00 to 79.27 mg/L). By 2018, the numbers (rates) of deaths in CRP decreased group, CRP stable group, and CRP increased group were 25 (6.53%), 33 (5.65%), and 13 (13.27%), respectively, and the difference in the mortality among the three groups was statistically significant (P=0.020). Logistic regression analysis showed that the CRP change≥5 mg/L was associated with a higher risk of death after stroke [odds ratio=2.332, 95% confidence interval (1.099, 4.946), P=0.027]. Conclusions Increasing CRP levels over time may indicate an increased risk of death in stroke patients. A 4-year increase in CRP greater than 5 mg/L may be an independent predictor of the risk of long-term death in stroke patients.