Zubair, Adeel

Objective Cervical artery dissection (CeAD) may be limited to the extracranial extradural space or extend to the intradural space. Intradural extension can potentially increase the risk of stroke and subarachnoid hemorrhage. However, the factors associated with intradural extension and its impact on clinical outcome remain unclear. Methods This was a secondary analysis of the STOP‐CAD observational, multi‐center study. Patients with CeAD and intradural extension (CeADid) were compared with those with pure CeAD extradural dissections (CeADed) using multiple regression analyses. Results Of 4,023 patients with CeAD, 534 (13.3%) had CeADid. In comparison to patients with CeADed, those with CeADid more often had clinical overt stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) at presentation, acute infarcts on imaging, a vertebral artery affected, and severe stenosis of the involved vessel ( p < 0.001 for all). In contrast, carotid involvement and complete occlusions were more frequent in patients with CeADed ( p < 0.001 for both). CeADid was associated with a shift in the distribution of scores on the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) toward worse functional outcome (odds ratio [OR] = 0.76, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.62–0.92) but the odds for favorable outcomes (mRS = 0–2) did not differ between the groups after appropriate adjustments on multivariate analysis. CeADid was independently associated with higher mortality at 180 days on multivariate analysis (adjusted OR = 2.84, 95% CI = 1.50–5.38). Interpretation CeADid is associated with more severe clinical presentation, a shift toward less favorable outcomes, and higher mortality rates. These findings suggest that CeADid may represent a high‐risk type of CeAD. ANN NEUROL 2026;99:1189–1197

BACKGROUND: Small, randomized trials of patients with cervical artery dissection showed conflicting results regarding optimal stroke prevention strategies. We aimed to compare outcomes in patients with cervical artery dissection treated with antiplatelets versus anticoagulation. METHODS: This is a multicenter observational retrospective international study (16 countries, 63 sites) that included patients with cervical artery dissection without major trauma. The exposure was antithrombotic treatment type (anticoagulation versus antiplatelets), and outcomes were subsequent ischemic stroke and major hemorrhage (intracranial or extracranial hemorrhage). We used adjusted Cox regression with inverse probability of treatment weighting to determine associations between anticoagulation and study outcomes within 30 and 180 days. The main analysis used an as-treated crossover approach and only included outcomes occurring with the above treatments. RESULTS: The study included 3636 patients (402 [11.1%] received exclusively anticoagulation and 2453 [67.5%] received exclusively antiplatelets). By day 180, there were 162 new ischemic strokes (4.4%) and 28 major hemorrhages (0.8%); 87.0% of ischemic strokes occurred by day 30. In adjusted Cox regression with inverse probability of treatment weighting, compared with antiplatelet therapy, anticoagulation was associated with a nonsignificantly lower risk of subsequent ischemic stroke by day 30 (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 0.71 [95% CI, 0.45–1.12]; P =0.145) and by day 180 (adjusted HR, 0.80 [95% CI, 0.28–2.24]; P =0.670). Anticoagulation therapy was not associated with a higher risk of major hemorrhage by day 30 (adjusted HR, 1.39 [95% CI, 0.35–5.45]; P =0.637) but was by day 180 (adjusted HR, 5.56 [95% CI, 1.53–20.13]; P =0.009). In interaction analyses, patients with occlusive dissection had significantly lower ischemic stroke risk with anticoagulation (adjusted HR, 0.40 [95% CI, 0.18–0.88]; P interaction =0.009). CONCLUSIONS: Our study does not rule out the benefit of anticoagulation in reducing ischemic stroke risk, particularly in patients with occlusive dissection. If anticoagulation is chosen, it seems reasonable to switch to antiplatelet therapy before 180 days to lower the risk of major bleeding. Large prospective studies are needed to validate our findings.

BACKGROUND: Patients presenting with cervical artery dissection (CAD) are at risk for subsequent ischemic events. We aimed to identify characteristics that are associated with increased risk of ischemic stroke after initial presentation of CAD and to evaluate the differential impact of anticoagulant versus antiplatelet therapy in these high-risk individuals. METHODS: This was a preplanned secondary analysis of the STOP-CAD study (Antithrombotic Treatment for Stroke Prevention in Cervical Artery Dissection), a multicenter international retrospective observational study (63 sites from 16 countries in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa) that included patients with CAD predominantly between January 2015 and June 2022. The primary outcome was subsequent ischemic stroke by day 180 after diagnosis. Clinical and imaging variables were compared between those with versus without subsequent ischemic stroke. Significant factors associated with subsequent stroke risk were identified using stepwise Cox regression. Associations between subsequent ischemic stroke risk and antithrombotic therapy type (anticoagulation versus antiplatelets) among patients with identified risk factors were explored using adjusted Cox regression. RESULTS: In all, 4023 patients (mean age was 47.4 years; 44.5% were women) were included. By day 180, subsequent ischemic stroke occurred in 5.3% of the cohort. In adjusted Cox regression, factors associated with increased risk of subsequent ischemic stroke were prior history of ischemic stroke (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 7.31 [95% CI, 1.61–33.13]; P =0.010), presentation within 7 days from first symptoms (aHR, 3.04 [95% CI, 1.04–8.91]; P =0.043), infarct on baseline imaging (aHR, 9.85 [95% CI, 3.65–26.58]; P <0.001), and occlusive dissection (aHR, 2.34 [95% CI, 1.03–5.34]; P =0.043). Only patients with occlusive dissection demonstrated a reduced risk of subsequent ischemic stroke when treated with anticoagulation versus antiplatelets (aHR, 0.36 [95% CI, 0.16–0.80]; P =0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In this post hoc analysis of the STOP-CAD study, several factors associated with subsequent ischemic stroke were identified among patients with CAD. Furthermore, we identified a potential benefit of anticoagulation in patients with CAD with occlusive dissection. These findings require validation by meta-analyses of prior studies to formulate optimal treatment strategies for specific high-risk CAD subgroups.

Background: Cerebral microbleeds (CMB) incidentally found during an MRI evaluation of ischemic stroke present a therapeutic dilemma. Case control studies suggest a relationship of cerebral microbleeds and intracerebral hemorrhage. Limited prospective studies of patients with ischemic stroke show variability in whether CMB hemorrhage rates are greater than recurrent ischemic stroke rates. Our aim was to determine the prevalence and characteristics of CMB in patients with atrial fibrillation presenting with stroke and secondly what the rate of prospective intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) was in those same patients. Methods: Consecutive patients admitted with atrial fibrillation and stroke were identified in our institution’s Get with the Guideline database between 2008-2009. Data from the incident hospitalization included: demographic information, use of antithrombotic and/or anticoagulation, and cerebrovascular risk factors. Radiologic imaging was reviewed to determine if a GRE or SWI sequence was included and record the number and location of CMB. Follow up information was obtained by chart review and written survey or phone call. Death certificates were obtained where applicable. Results: 240 patients were identified, 128 of whom had a CT only and 112 who had an MRI. Of those with an MRI, 76 had GRE or SWI sequences. Twenty-one of 76 patients with a GRE or SWI sequence had a CMB (prevalence: 27.6%). One patient in the CMB (+) group had a prospective hemorrhage during an average follow up of 3 years (rate: 0.33 ICH per patient year of follow up). No patients in the CMB negative group had an ICH. Conclusions: Our study demonstrates the prevalence of cerebral microbleeds is much higher than the actual prospective hemorrhage rate. The prospective hemorrhage rate is low and consistent with findings from large, randomized anticoagulation studies in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Abstract Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a neurodegenerative disorder, which is characterized by progressive upper and lower motor neuron signs and symptoms, resulting in progressive muscle weakness. There are very rare reports of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) abnormalities within the nerve roots or plexus reported in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Here, we report a patient who presented with progressive left arm weakness and was found to have bilateral MRI plexus abnormalities. This report illustrates that MRI plexus abnormalities can be seen in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, possibly before symptoms, and may have clinical value in the diagnostic process.

BACKGROUND Extramammary Paget disease (EMPD) is a rare intraepithelial adenocarcinoma occurring mainly in the anogenital region. Traditional management with wide local excision has shown high recurrence rates, thus Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) has emerged as a promising treatment option. OBJECTIVE To compare long-term outcomes after treatment with MMS or excision for primary EMPD. METHODS AND MATERIALS Retrospective cohort review was conducted for 207 patients with EMPD treated at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, between 1961 and 2012. RESULTS Of the 25 patients treated with MMS, 19 primary tumors were included for outcome analysis, with an estimated 5-year recurrence-free survival rate of 91% (95% confidence interval [CI], 75–100) using Kaplan–Meier curve analysis. Of 158 patients treated with local excision, 124 were included for the analysis, with an estimated 5-year recurrence-free survival rate of 66% (95% CI, 56–78). The hazard ratio (HR) for association of treatment was 0.4 (95% CI, 0.10–1.65; p = .20). Estimated 5-year overall survival rates were 79% for MMS (95% CI, 61–100) and 68% for excision (95% CI, 59–78) (HR, 1.39 [95% CI, 0.69–2.82]; p = .36). CONCLUSION Although treatment of primary EMPD with MMS versus excision did not show statistical difference, MMS demonstrated favorable long-term outcomes and was associated with a higher recurrence-free survival rate.

Context: Psychosocial factors can impact lung transplant outcomes. However, it is currently unknown whether abuse survivorship influences lung transplant survival. Objective: To characterize the abuse history of adult lung transplant patients and determine whether such history is associated with mortality. Patients and Other Participants: Adult lung transplant recipients evaluated from 2000 to 2004. Main Outcome Measures: The main outcome was post-lung transplantation survival. The secondary outcomes included demographic, transplantation, or psychological assessment differences between those with a history of abuse survivorship and those without. Results: Thirty-three lung transplant recipients (35.5% male, median age: 55 years) were included. A history of abuse survivorship was common (24.2%) and was associated with decreased survival following lung transplantation ( P = .003). There was no difference in sex, marital status, or smoking history between abuse survivors and those who denied being the victim of abuse. Abuse survivors had a higher Personality Assessment Screener total score, a measure of maladaptive personality traits ( P = .02). Conclusion: Abuse survivorship is common in lung transplant patients and associated with increased posttransplant mortality and increased maladaptive personality traits. This preliminary evidence suggests that lung transplant patients should be screened for abuse history and provided with appropriate treatment of survivorship issues to potentially improve their health outcomes from transplantation.

Renovascular hypertension (RVH) is a common cause of both cardiovascular and renal morbidity and mortality. In renal artery stenosis (RAS), atrophy in the stenotic kidney is associated with an influx of macrophages and other mononuclear cells. We tested the hypothesis that chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2) inhibition would reduce chronic renal injury by reducing macrophage influx in the stenotic kidney of mice with RAS. We employed a well-established murine model of RVH to define the relationship between macrophage infiltration and development of renal atrophy in the stenotic kidney. To determine the role of chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2)/CCR2 signaling in the development of renal atrophy, mice were treated with the CCR2 inhibitor RS-102895 at the time of RAS surgery and followed for 4 wk. Renal tubular epithelial cells expressed CCL2 by 3 days following surgery, a time at which no significant light microscopic alterations, including interstitial inflammation, were identified. Macrophage influx increased with time following surgery. At 4 wk, the development of severe renal atrophy was accompanied by an influx of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)+ and CD206+ macrophages that coexpressed F4/80, with a modest increase in macrophages coexpressing arginase 1 and F4/80. The CCR2 inhibitor RS-102895 attenuated renal atrophy and significantly reduced the number of dual-stained F4/80+ iNOS+ and F4/80+ CD206+ but not F4/80+ arginase 1+ macrophages. CCR2 inhibition reduces iNOS+ and CD206+ macrophage accumulation that coexpress F4/80 and renal atrophy in experimental renal artery stenosis. CCR2 blockade may provide a novel therapeutic approach to humans with RVH.