BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Outcome measures in acute stroke trials are being refined. Changes in neurological deficits might be useful outcome measures because they can measure the entire spectrum of deficits. METHODS We analyzed data from the acute stroke treatment trial Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment (TOAST). Using logistic regression analysis, we modeled the probability of the TO...

OBJECTIVE To measure the changes of mean platelet volume (MPV) after using four antiplatelet drugs in acute non-cardioembolic ischemic stroke patients and assess the association of antiplatelets and MPV and stroke outcome. MATERIAL AND METHOD Ischemic stroke survivors with National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) 8 were randomly allocated intofour groups, receiving aspirin, clopidogr...

Background Previous studies have shown that tumor-associated tissue eosinophilia have a role in various types of solid tumors. However, the relationship between eosinophil and acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is unclear. We aimed to investigate the diagnostic significance of eosinophil in AIS patients. Methods This study included 300 AIS patients without hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES). The hemat...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) is a widely used measure of neurological function in clinical trials and patient assessment; inter-rater scoring variability could impact communications and trial power. The manner in which the rater certification test is scored yields multiple correct answers that have changed over time. We examined the range of poss...

OBJECTIVES To investigate whether the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) can be used to predict mortality and functional outcome in patients presenting with intracerebral haemorrhage. DESIGN Retrospective study of a prospectively collected cohort. SETTING Regional hospital, Hong Kong. PATIENTS A cohort of 359 patients presented to our hospital from 1996 to 2001 with their ...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Despite Food and Drug Administration approval of tissue-type plasminogen activator for stroke, obstacles in the US healthcare system prevent its widespread use. The Remote Evaluation for Acute Ischemic Stroke (REACH) program was developed to address these issues in rural settings. A key component of stroke assessment in the REACH system is the National Institutes of Healt...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The morbidity from spontaneous hemorrhage of untreated brain arteriovenous malformations (AVM) is not well described. METHODS The 241 consecutive AVM patients (mean age 37+/-16 years, 52% women) from the prospective Columbia AVM Databank initially presenting with hemorrhage were evaluated using the Rankin Scale (RS) and the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIH...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE No stroke scale has been validated as an outcome measure using data from a clinical trial demonstrating a positive therapeutic effect. Therefore, we proposed to use data from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) tPA Stroke Trial to determine whether the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) was valid in patients treated with tis...

Patients with renal failure have a higher risk for cerebrovascular events and silent brain damage and a higher cardiovascular mortality rate when compared with the general population. We present two cases where alteplase was used for hemodialysis patients (HP) with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). A 70-year-old Caucasian female with a 2-year history of hemodialysis was admitted with right hemipares...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Intravenous (IV) tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is the only Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved treatment for acute ischemic stroke. Post tPA patients are typically monitored in an intensive care unit (ICU) for at least 24 hours. However, rigorous evidence to support this practice is lacking. This study evaluates factors that predict ICU needs after IV thrombo...