Association of Cardioembolism and Intracranial Arterial Stenosis with Outcomes of Mechanical Thrombectomy in Acute Ischemic Stroke

Abstract

Objective: To estimate the association of different etiologies of cardioembolism (CE), intracranial arterial stenosis (ICAS), or the combination of these conditions with outcomes of mechanical thrombectomy in acute ischemic stroke.

Methods: Data from the intervention group of the Endovascular therapy for Acute ischemic Stroke Trial (EAST) were analyzed. In 140 patients, the presence of CE, ICAS, neither CE nor ICAS, or both conditions was assessed. The primary outcome was a favorable outcome at 90 days (modified Rankin Scale score 0-2); secondary outcomes included successful reperfusion (modified Thrombolysis In Cerebral Infarction grade 2b-3), symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage, and 90-day mortality.

Results: Of 140 patients, 47 had neither CE nor ICAS, 35 had ICAS but not CE, 46 had CE but not ICAS, and 12 had both CE and ICAS. The rate of favorable outcome was 67.1% in the no CE and no ICAS group, 74.3% in the ICAS without CE group, 41.3% in the CE without ICAS group, and 33.3% in the CE and ICAS group. The CE and ICAS group had poor outcomes (odds ratio = 0.20 after adjusting for age, sex, and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score; 95% confidence interval, 0.04-0.95; P = 0.043). No significant differences were observed in secondary outcomes.

Conclusions: The presence of both CE and ICAS was associated with poor outcome in patients with anterior circulation large-vessel occlusion treated with endovascular thrombectomy. Future studies are warranted to further explore this association.

Keywords: Acute ischemic stroke; Cardioembolism; Intracranial arterial stenosis; Mechanical thrombectomy.