Article Text
Abstract
Introduction Despite early management and technical success of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) for acute ischemic stroke (AIS), not all patients reach a good clinical outcome. Different factors may have an impact and we aimed to evaluate blood pressure (BP) levels in the first 24 hours after MT.
Methods Consecutive AIS patients treated with MT were enrolled in the retrospective bi-center study. Neurological deficit was assessed with National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and functional outcome after 3 months with modified Rankin scale (mRS) with a score 0–2 for good outcome. The presence of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (SICH) was assessed according to the SITS–MOST criteria.
Results Of 703 treated patients, completed BP levels were collected in 690 patients (350 males, mean age 71±13 years) with median of admission NIHSS 17 points. Patients with mRS 0–2 had a lower median of systolic BP (SBP) compared with those with poor outcome (131 vs 140 mm Hg, P<0.0001). The rate of SICH did not differ between the patients with a median of SBP <140 mm Hg and ≥140 mm Hg. (5.1% vs 5.1%, P=0.980). Multivariate regression analysis with adjustment for potential confounders showed a median of distolic BP (P=0.024, OR: 0.977, 95% CI: 0.957 to 0.997) as a predictor of good functional outcome after MT, and a median of maximal SBP (P=0.038; OR: 0.990, 95% CI: 0.981 to 0.999) in the patients with achieved recanalization.
Conclusion Lowering of BP within the first 24 hours after MT may have a positive impact on clinical outcome in treated patients.
- ischemic stroke
- mechanical thrombectomy
- blood pressure level
- symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage
- clinical outcome
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- ischemic stroke
- mechanical thrombectomy
- blood pressure level
- symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage
- clinical outcome
Introduction
Since the positive randomized trials and following the Highly Effective Reperfusion evaluated in Multiple Endovascular Stroke Trials (HERMES) meta-analysis showed a substantial clinical efficacy of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in acute ischemic stroke (AIS),1 all centers performing MT worldwide are being challenged to achieve similar or better clinical results. Despite an experienced multidisciplinary stroke team, well organized hospital management, and good technical results, not all treated patients reach a good outcome. Different factors may have an impact on functional outcome after MT,2–4 nevertheless, some cannot be affected and some have not yet been sufficiently established.
Although the levels of blood pressure (BP) are generally considered very important for recanalization therapy of AIS, only limited data about levels of BP before and after MT and its impact on clinical outcome are available up to date.5–7 Moreover, the management of optimal BP in patients undergoing MT is not yet established, formal recommendations are missing, and most centers do not have a standardized protocol for post-MT BP treatment.8–11
The aim of our study was to evaluate the influence of BP values within the first 24 hours after MT on a 3-month clinical outcome.
Methods
All consecutive non-selected patients, who were treated with MT between 2010 and 2016 in both centers, were enrolled in this retrospective bi-center study. In all patients, the symptomatic occlusion of cerebral artery was detected on computed tomographic angiography or magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). MT was performed in case of occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCA; M1 or M2 segment), or distal part of internal carotid artery (ICA), or in the case of occlusion of basilar artery (BAO). In the case of arterial occlusion in anterior circulation, MT was initiated within the first 6 hours after stroke onset. In the case of BAO, MT was performed within the first 24 hours after stroke onset. The size of the hypodense area corresponding to acute infarction larger than one-third of MCA territory present on admission CT in the patients with IS in the anterior circulation was the only imaging exclusion criterion for MT. Prior severe disability and known fatal malignity were the clinical exclusion criteria. Patients with ’wake-up’' strokes in the anterior circulation were treated with MT if no hypodense area corresponding to acute infarction was present on admission CT or no hypersignal area corresponding to acute infarction was present on admission MRI sequence fluid attenuation inversion recovery. Admission clinical status was evaluated using the National Institutes of Health Stroke scale (NIHSS) by a certified neurologist. Intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) was administered within the first 4.5 hours from stroke onset prior to MT if indicated. In patients with BAO, IVT was performed within the first 24 hours from stroke onset. Mechanical thrombectomy was performed using stent retrievers (Solitaire, Catch Device, Trevo, and pRESET). Achieved recanalization status was assessed according to the Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction Scale (TICI) on the final angiogram.12
In all patients, the occurrence of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) was assessed on the control CT or MRI after 24 hours. Symptomatic ICH was defined as a local remote parenchymal hematoma (type 2) or subarachnoid hemorrhage associated with at least a 4-point increase in NIHSS score or leading to death.13 Neurological deficit was evaluated using the NIHSS after 24 hours and clinical outcome after 3 months using the modified Rankin scale (mRS). A score of 0–2 points was considered a good outcome. The mRS scoring was performed by an experienced certified neurologist and mostly during scheduled outpatient visits. In some patients, the scoring was performed by phone call with patient’s relatives or caregivers.
The patient’s BP levels in the first 24 hours after MT were collected as 24 values of systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) recorded each hour during hospitalization at the intensive care unit (ICU) after performed MT. The treatment of elevated BP and target BP levels depended on treating physician’s decision and clinical status of an individual patient. In the case of previously performed IVT, the BP level 185/110 mm Hg was respected as the maximal upper limit.14 15 IV administered urapidil (Ebrantil, Takeda GmbH, Singen, Germany) was the first choice for the BP treatment in most patients in a form of repeated injections or infusion. For the analysis, patients were divided into two groups according to presence/absence of good outcome and compared in values of SBP and DBP. Subsequently, subgroups of patients with a median of SBP <140 mm Hg and ≥140 mm Hg were analyzed.
The study protocol was in compliance with the Declaration of Helsinki (1975) and was approved by the ethical committee of our hospitals.
Statistical analysis SPSS software (version 22.0; SPSS, Chicago, IL) was used for the statistical analysis. Fisher’s exact test and the Kruskal–Wallis test were used for nonparametric variables. Data normality was tested using the Shapiro–Wilk test. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis were used to evaluate SBP and DBP as possible predictors of a good 3-month clinical outcome. A multivariate regression model was adjusted for the following potential confounders: age, arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, atrial fibrillation, admission NIHSS, IVT, admission glycemia, recanalization time (onset to maximal achieved recanalization time), and SICH. All tests used α-level of 0.05 for significance.
Results
In total, 703 patients were treated with MT using stent retrievers in both centers during the investigated period (2010–2016). Completed BP values within the first 24 hours after MT were collected in 690 patients (350 males, mean age 71±13 years). Demographic and baseline characteristics of analyzed patients are shown in table 1.
The recanalization (TICI 2b–3) was reached in 551 (79.9%) patients and complete recanalization (TICI 3) in 444 (64.3%) patients. Good 90-day clinical outcome (mRS 0–2) was present in 331 (48%) patients and 186 (27%) patients died within 3 months. ICH after MT was observed in 200 (29%) and SICH in 35 (5%) patients (table 2).
Patients with good outcome had a significantly lower median of SBP and median of maximal recorded SBP compared with those with poor outcome (131 vs 140 mm Hg, P<0.0001; 160 vs 170 mm Hg, P<0.0001; table 3). Similarly, in the subgroup of patients with achieved recanalization (TICI 2b–3) and with complete recanalization (TICI 3): patients with good outcome had again lower median of SBP (131 vs 140 mm Hg, P<0.0001; 130 vs 139 mm Hg, P=0.0004, table 3). Patients with good outcome were also significantly younger and more frequently treated with IVT, had lower admission NIHSS, less frequently arterial hypertension, atrial fibrillation, and diabetes (table 1).
In the subgroup analysis, patients with a median of SBP <140 mm Hg had significantly better clinical outcome and lower 3-month mortality (table 2), whereas no significant difference was found in the recanalization times and rates between both analyzed subgroups. Similarly, the rate of ICH and SICH did not differ between the patients with a median of SBP <140 mm Hg and ≥140 mm Hg (27.4% vs 30.6%, P=0.980) (table 2). Patients with SICH had a similar median of SBP and DBP within the first 24 hours after MT compared with those without SICH (table 4).
Univariate logistic regression analysis showed median of SBP (P<0.0001, OR: 0.976, 95% CI: 0.966 to 0.0986), median of maximal recorded SBP (P<0.0001, OR: 0.979, 95% CI: 0.972 to 0.986), and DBP (P=0.008, OR: 0.986, 95% CI: 0.976 to 0.996) as independent predictors of good outcome after MT (table 5). Similar results were shown also in the subgroup of patients with achieved recanalisation (TICI 2b–3) and with complete recanalization (table 5). A multivariate regression model with adjustment for potential confounders showed a median of DBP (P=0.024, OR: 0.977, 95% CI: 0.957 to 0.997) as a predictor of a good 3-month clinical outcome only (table 6). In the subgroup analysis, a median of maximal recorded SBP (P=0.038, OR: 0.990, 95% CI: 0.981 to 0.999) was shown as a predictor in the patients with achieved recanalization (TICI 2b–3) and a median of maximal recorded DBP (P=0.046, OR: 0.984, 95% CI: 0.969 to 1.000) in the patients with complete recanalization (table 6).
Discussion
Results of our study showed that AIS patients with a good 3-month outcome after MT had significantly lower SBP values within the first 24 hours after recanalization intervention. Patients with a median of SBP <140 mm Hg had significantly better clinical outcome and a lower 3-month mortality. Post-treatment SBP and DBP were found as independent predictors of good outcome and our results support the previously reported data from recent studies.5–7 Furthermore, the associations between a higher admission SBP and a lower likelihood of 3-month favorable functional outcome and increased final infarction volume after MT were reported recently.16
Despite limited evidence on BP levels during and after MT, our findings may support an importance of BP levels in the management after MT. Clear and reliable recommendations for the management of BP in patients with AIS, who undergo MT, have not yet been established and most centers do not have a standardized protocol for BP treatment after MT.8–11 Thus we suggest that our findings might contribute to a large discussion on optimal BP management after MT. A recent survey among US centers showed that the majority tended to lower BP levels in patients with successful recanalization and kept higher BP levels in those with unsuccessful recanalization.11
In the subgroup of our patients without achieved recanalisation (TICI <2b), no significant difference was found in SBP levels between those with good and poor outcome (table 3). These findings contradict a generally accepted paradigm that higher BP maintains collateral perfusion in the case of persistent cerebral arterial occlusion. Our results support a previously reported association between increased SBP and DBP levels in non-recanalized patients and a higher likelihood of 3-month mortality and poor outcome.6 We did not analyze patients with the recanalization grade of TICI 2b and 2c individually, thus we were not able to evaluate whether patients with incomplete recanalization required really higher BP levels to maintain collateral perfusion. In addition, a multivariate regression model with adjustment for potential confounders showed a median of maximal SBP as a significant predictor of good outcome in the patients with achieved recanalization (TICI 2b–3), but not the median of SBP. Furthermore, in the patients with complete recanalization (TICI 3), the multivariate model did not show either SBP variable as a predictor of good outcome (table 6). This may be explained by a previously reported finding that variability of BP with higher maximal SBP peaks, supporting and maintaining collateral perfusion in patients with incomplete recanalization (TICI 2b–c), is strongly associated with poor outcome.5 17 18 It can be also speculated that the previously reported significant decline of SBP within the first 8–12 hours after successful recanalization might have some potential effect.19
In the patients with complete recanalization, the multivariate regression model showed the median of maximal DBP as a significant predictor for good outcome (table 6). We may hypothesize that elevated DBP does not principally support cerebral collateral perfusion, but it is more likely associated with pre-treatment diseases (poorly controlled arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, atrial fibrillation, ischemic cardiopathy, renal failure) that are common independent predictors for worse outcome after MT.20 21
No association between the occurrence of SICH and BP levels after MT was found and our finding supports the previous report of Goyal et al,5 but it contradicts the reported data of Mistry et al.7 In spite of this, we admit that the low number of our patients with SICH might affect our findings. It can be hypothesized that BP levels during intervention and immediately after the end of MT may be more important for the risk of SICH.5 IVT may also increase the risk of SICH, but the combination of MT with previous IVT did not increase the risk of SICH in our patients (table 4). Likewise in the positive randomized trials1 and the rate of SICH in our study (5%) was similar to the reported from the HERMES meta-analysis (4.4%).1
The presented study has limitations. A retrospective observational analysis was used in the presented study. BP values during the intervention were not collected, a BP value recorded at the patient’s admission to ICU after performed MT was the first collected for our analysis. Nevertheless, a recent post-hoc analysis of the Sedation vs. Intubation for Endovascular Stroke Treatment trial showed no association between the difference in SBP, DBP, and mean arterial pressure from baseline to the different phases of thrombectomy intervention and NIHSS change after 24 hours.22 Moreover, no association was found between BP drops during intervention and a change in mRS at 3 months.22
Although most of our patients were treated for hypertension after MT with intravenously administered urapidil, some patients were treated also with other medicaments. Our study was focused on clinical outcomes specifically and no additional imaging analysis was performed to assess the possible relationship between infarct and penumbral volumes and BP levels.
In conclusion, our study demonstrates that patients with lower BP levels within the first 24 hours after MT may have better clinical outcome and lower 3-month mortality. In the absence of evidence from clinical trials, missing reliable recommendations, and different management of BP among endovascular centers worldwide, a further large multicenter prospective study is strongly warranted.
References
Footnotes
Contributors DC, DS: study concept and design, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation of data; drafting and critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content; and final approval of the version to be published. PD: acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation of data; drafting and critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content. MK, FC: acquisition of data, critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content. JZ: statistical analysis, interpretation of analysis. TV, AP, DO, MC, PJ, MK: acquisition of data, critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content. TD: acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation of data, drafting and critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content. VP, DF: acquisition of data, critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content. PK: critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content.
Funding This study was funded by IGA LF UP (grant number: 018_2018); Ministerstvo Zdravotnictví Ceské Republiky (grant number: 17-30101A); Krajska Zdravotní, a.s. (grant number: IGA-KZ-2017-1-2).
Competing interests None declared.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.
Patient consent for publication Not required.