Difficulties in Making Decision on use of Intravenous Thrombolysis in Patients with Mild Ischemic Stroke Manifesting Isolate Cerebellar Syndrome

Case Series

Austin J Cerebrovasc Dis & Stroke. 2015;2(1): 1034.

Difficulties in Making Decision on use of Intravenous Thrombolysis in Patients with Mild Ischemic Stroke Manifesting Isolate Cerebellar Syndrome

Piotr Sobolewski*

Department of Neurology and Stroke Unit of Holy Spirit Specialist Hospital, Poland

*Corresponding author: Piotr Sobolewski, Department of Neurology and Stroke Unit of Holy Spirit Specialist Hospital in Sandomierz, 13 Schinzla Str. 27-600 Sandomierz, Poland.

Received: March 25, 2015; Accepted: May 19, 2015; Published: May 30, 2015

Abstract

Background: Minor Stroke (MS) and Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) collectively represent the largest group of cerebrovascular events. Many studies have demonstrated that after TIA or MS there is an approximately 10% risk of subsequent stroke within 90 days, including patients with symptoms from posterior circulation. The significant part of vertebrobasilar territory infarcts were in the cerebellum and in the posterior inferior cerebellar artery territory. In these cases the main symptoms are cerebellar syndrome ones. However, many of these patients have poor long-term outcome.

Aims: The aim of this review was discussing problem of use of rt-PA in patients with minor stroke, especially in the cases with ischemia in the posterior circulation and turning the attention to the patients with isolated cerebellar syndrome and patients with recurrent TIA in posterior circulation with milder symptoms.

Cases: To illustrate this difficult clinical problem three cases of patients with minor stoke in posterior circulation are presented. In two cases the procedures of the diagnosis and treatment were inappropriate and in one patient thrombolytic therapy were used and she had favorable long-term outcome.

Conclusion: Selected patients with isolated cerebellar syndrome in the course of cerebral ischemia should be treated with iv-thrombolysis. The use of MRI with DWI sequence can significantly help to make therapeutic decisions beneficial for patients.

Keywords: Mild stroke; Posterior circulation; iv-thrombolysis; rt-PA

Introduction

Minor Stroke (MS) and Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) collectively represent the largest group of cerebrovascular events [1]. As endorsed by 2009 guidelines from the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA), TIA is defined as a transient episode of neurologic dysfunction caused by focal brain, spinal cord, or retinal ischemia, without acute infarction [2]. The term MS is often used for stroke patients with mild and nondisabling symptoms, however, there are use different definitions. Mild ischemia implies a stroke mechanism which involves a small volume of brain and recovery from previous more severe injury or that brain injury has been well compensated for by collateral perfusion [3]. The incidence of diagnosis of MS, according to definition, is from 18,9% to 54,9% of all patients with ischemic stroke [3].

Many recent studies have demonstrated that after TIA or MS there is an approximately 10% risk of subsequent stroke within 90 days [4-9]. These categories of stroke are also associated with high rates of short-term and long-term disability and death [10].

Among 407 New England Medical Center Posterior Circulation registry patients, 59% had strokes without transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), 24% had TIAs then strokes, and 16% had only TIAs [11]. Posterior circulation territory stroke accounts for 20% of all strokes [12]. Traditionally, posterior circulation stroke and TIA have been thought to have a lower recurrent stroke risk than other types of stroke. However, other studies and meta-analysis have shown that the risk is as high as that seen in anterior circulation stroke [13,14] and that there is a threefold increased risk of stroke after posterior circulation TIA or minor stroke in patients with symptomatic vertebrobasilar stenosis than in those without stenosis [14-16].

In the posterior stroke patients there are symptoms associated with cerebellum, brain stem and occipital cortex damage. A large single center series of 1000 patients reported that 7% of vertebrobasilar territory infarcts were in the cerebellum and 36% in the posterior inferior cerebellar artery territory [17]. In the course of stroke in such locations cerebellar syndrome symptoms, nausea and vomiting dominate [18]. In these cases, it is difficult to make the right decision on how to diagnose and how to treat patients is most difficult. Lack of deficits from the brain stem often puts to sleep alertness the clinician’s to make decision.

Posterior circulation stroke (POCI) is diagnosed on the basis of history and clinical examination, assisted by imaging. In the neurological evaluation of these patients the generally applicable the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) is not perfect [19]. The Israeli Vertebrobasilar Stroke Scale (IVBSS) may be more helpful [20].

Non-contrast Computed Tomography (CT) is still the mainstay of investigation for TIA and MS at most stroke centers. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) with Diffusion Weighted Imaging (DWI) is the brain imaging modality of choice for suspected damage of brain in the course of TIA or MS, especially in POCI stroke. MRI is superior to CT for demonstrating focal ischemic changed in small-volume lesions [21]. MRI is far more sensitive than CT in the diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke for all vascular territories, 80-95% sensitivity in the first 24 hours when DWI is used, versus 16% sensitivity with CT [21,22]. However, it is difficult to access MRI in many countries, especially in the hyperacute phase.

Prolonged Transcranial Doppler (TCD) with emboli detection is also useful in the assessment and risk stratification of TIA and MS patients, mainly in patients with unstable atherosclerotic plaque in the large vessels [23-25].

Patients with milder or resolving symptoms, especially in posterior circulation, are often mistakenly considered poor candidates for revascularization. Specialist assessment and intravenous administration of rt-PA are slower in patients with POCI stroke compared with those with anterior circulation stroke, because of delayed or missed diagnosis [26,27]. Among other things, for this reason up to 43% of patients with mild or resolving deficits are not offered iv-thrombolysis, and almost a third of these patients will die or be dependent at hospital discharge [28,29].

To illustrate this difficult clinical problem three cases of patients with minor stoke in posterior circulation are presented. In two cases, the procedures of the diagnosis and treatment were inappropriate and in one patient thrombolytic therapy were used and she had favorable long-term outcome.

Cases Presentation

Case 1

A 42-year-old Caucasian male with a history of hypertension and dyslipidemia was on a maintenance dose of 75mg per day of aspirin. The patient was admitted with vertigo, ataxia, nausea, vomiting and horizontal nystagmus with fast phase toward the right of 205-min duration (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, NIHSS - 2 pts; IVBSS - 4 pts.). On admission, his blood pressure (BP) was 180/95 mmHg, and results of laboratory tests were normal. In the baseline CT early ischemic changes (IC) were not found. The patient was not treated with intravenous thrombolysis. In the following hours of hospitalization the patient experienced right hemiparesis and dysarthria. After 24 hours, persistence of neurological symptoms was observed (NIHSS - 6 pts.; IVBSS – 14 pts.). In the controlled MRI, performed 48-h after admission, small IC was located in the right cerebellum lobe and in the pons (Figure 1 a, b, c.). Cardioembolic stroke was diagnosed and anticoagulant therapy was enabled. 3 months after stroke onset, the patient was functionally independent (NIHSS – 1 pts.; IVBSS – 6 pts.; modified Rankin Scale – 2 pts.). The patient remained cerebellar syndrome symptoms.

Figure 1: (A, B and C) Brain MRI scans of the 1st patient performed 48-h after stroke onset.

    

    
    

    

    Figure 1:  (A, B and C) Brain MRI scans of the 1st patient performed 48-h
after stroke onset.

Case 2

A 68-year-old Caucasian female with a history of hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis and chronic steroid therapy was admitted with vertigo, ataxia, nausea, vomiting and diplopia of 190-min duration (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, NIHSS- 1 pts.; IVBSS –12 pts). On admission, her blood pressure (BP) was 160/90 mm Hg, and results of laboratory tests were normal. In the baseline CT early IC were not found. Patients do not treat with intravenous thrombolysis. After 24 hours, persistence of cerebellar syndrome symptoms was observed (NIHSS - 6 pts.; IVBSS – 14 pts.). In the controlled MRI, performed at fourth day after admission, large IC was located in the left cerebellum lobe (Figure 2 a, b, c.). 3 months after stroke onset, the patient was functionally dependent (NIHSS – 1 pts.; IVBSS – 6 pts.; modified Rankin Scale – 3 pts.). Cerebellar syndrome symptoms remained in the patients and she walks using the walker.

Figure 2: a,b,c: Brain MRI scans of the 2nd patient performed at 4th day after stroke onset.

    

    
    

    

    Figure 2:  a,b,c: Brain MRI scans of the 2nd patient performed at 4th day after
stroke onset.

Case 3

A 48-year-old Caucasian female with a history of hypertension and smoking was admitted with vertigo, nausea, vomiting, dysarthria and mild disturbances of consciousness of 220-min duration (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, NIHSS - 2 pts.; IVBSS –12 pts). On admission, her blood pressure (BP) was 170/90 mm Hg, and results of laboratory tests were normal. In the baseline CT early ICs were not found; MRI-DWI showed early IC located in the pons (Figure 3 a. b. c.). At 330 min after symptom onset, she received 60 mg rt-PA (weight estimated at 66 kg) without complications. After 24 hours, patient was asymptomatic (NIHSS - 0 pts.; IVBSS – 0 pts.). Controlled CTs, performed 24-h and on 7th day after thrombolysis did not show any ICs or hemorrhagic transformation. 3 months after stroke onset, the patient was functionally independent (NIHSS – 0 pts.; IVBSS – 0 pts.; modified Rankin Scale – 0 pts.).

Figure 3: a,b,c: The baseline brain MRI scans of the 3rd patient.

    

    
    

    

    Figure 3:  a,b,c: The baseline brain MRI scans of the 3rd patient.

Discussion

The results from randomized controlled trials and registers of patients in ischemic stroke showed that iv-thrombolysis with use of alteplase (recombinant tPA) improves functional outcome using the modified Rankin score (mRS) at three months [30-36]. However, many patients do not receive intravenous alteplase because of mild or improving stroke symptoms and the uncertain risk benefit ratio. A part of these patients have unfavorable outcomes and require further rehabilitation. About one third of acute stroke patients with rapid improvement of neurological deficit on arrival at the hospital develop severe subsequent deterioration [28,37]. Thus, withholding intravenous thrombolysis because of mild or improving symptoms may not always be justified.

In most randomized trials patients with POCI stroke were excluded from the study. There are only a few previously published studies evaluating safety and effectiveness of iv-thrombolysis in the posterior circulation strokes. In most of these studies rt-PA was administered in patients with basilar artery occlusion [38- 41]. A metaanalysis comparing intravenous versus intra-arterial thrombolytic treatment found that survival and outcome were roughly equal (24% vs. 22%of patients reached good outcomes) [39]. The previously published study by Förster et al. showed prolonged door to needle time in patients with posterior circulation stroke. This one-center study also showed that safety, mortality and incidence of intracerebral hemorrhage were similar in patients with stroke in anterior and posterior circulation [26]. In the Third International Stroke Trial (IST-3), a group of patients with POCI stroke treated with thrombolysis accounted 7% of all treated patients compared to 9% patients in a controlled group. There were no statistically significant differences between both groups regarding long-term outcome [34].

There are no studies evaluating safety and effectiveness of patients with milder or resolving symptoms in posterior circulation undergoing iv-thrombolysis. Planning and performing such studies would be very difficult.

I believe that discussing this clinical problem and presenting the negative cases, with respect to the clinical management, I turned the attention to the fact of too frequent exclusion of patients with isolated cerebellar syndrome and patients with recurrence TIA in posterior circulation with milder symptoms from iv-thrombolysis.

Conclusion

Selected patients with isolated cerebellar syndrome in the course of cerebral ischemia should be treated with iv-thrombolysis. The use of MRI with DWI sequence can significantly help to make a beneficial for patient therapeutic decision.

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Citation: Sobolewski P. Difficulties in Making Decision on use of Intravenous Thrombolysis in Patients with Mild Ischemic Stroke Manifesting Isolate Cerebellar Syndrome. Austin J Cerebrovasc Dis & Stroke. 2015;2(1): 1034. ISSN: 2381-9103.