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Differential Benefit of Collaterals for Stroke Patients Treated with Thrombolysis or Supportive Care

A Propensity Score Matched Analysis

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Abstract

Purpose

Leptomeningeal collaterals can slow down infarction growth; however, despite good collaterals in the DAWN and DEFUSE 3 trials, outcomes were devastating if reperfusion was not attempted. The aim of this study was to compare the influence of collaterals on morphological and functional outcome in patients with acute middle cerebral artery (MCA) stroke undergoing intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) vs. supportive care (non-IVT).

Methods

Out of 1639 consecutive patients examined with multiparametric computed tomography (CT) for suspected ischemic stroke, all patients with confirmed MCA stroke who did not undergo endovascular thrombectomy were selected. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to match IVT and non-IVT treated patients for potential confounders including age, sex, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score on admission, Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS), and occlusion site. Regression analysis after PSM was performed to identify independent associations.

Results

After PSM, 90 IVT patients were matched with 90 non-IVT patients. In multivariable regression analysis, a high regional leptomeningeal collateral (rLMC) score was independently associated with lower final infarction volume (FIV) in the IVT group (b = −0.472, p < 0.001) but not in the non-IVT group (b = −0.116, p = 0.327). The trichotomized rLMC scores predicted functional outcome in IVT treated patients (adjusted odds ratio, aOR = 4.57, 95% confidence interval, CI, 1.03–20.32, p = 0.046) but showed no independent association with outcome in the non-IVT group (aOR = 0.69, 95% CI 0.07–6.80, p = 0.753).

Conclusion

Good collaterals favored smaller FIV and good functional outcome in IVT treated patients but not in non-IVT treated patients. Good collateral flow may have limited prognostic value if IVT is not administered to attempt reperfusion

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Author Contributions

Conceived and designed the experiments: F. Schuler, W.G. Kunz, K.M. Thierfelder. Performed the experiments: F. Schuler, L.T. Rotkopf, M.P. Fabritius, K.M. Thierfelder, W.G. Kunz. Analyzed the data: F. Schuler, L.T. Rotkopf, W.G. Kunz, D. Apel. Wrote the manuscript: F. Schuler, L.T. Rotkopf, D. Apel, M.P. Fabritius, S. Tiedt, F.A. Wollenweber, L. Kellert, F. Dorn, T. Liebig, K.M. Thierfelder, W.G. Kunz.

Funding

W.G. Kunz received an institutional research grant from LMU Munich.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, Munich, Germany

    Felix Schuler, Lukas T. Rotkopf, Daniel Apel, Matthias P. Fabritius & Wolfgang G. Kunz

  2. Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany

    Steffen Tiedt & Frank A. Wollenweber

  3. Department of Neurology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany

    Lars Kellert

  4. Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany

    Franziska Dorn & Thomas Liebig

  5. Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center Rostock, Rostock, Germany

    Kolja M. Thierfelder

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  1. Felix Schuler
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Correspondence to Felix Schuler.

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Conflict of interest

F. Schuler, L.T. Rotkopf, D. Apel, M.P. Fabritius, S. Tiedt, F.A. Wollenweber, L. Kellert, F. Dorn, T. Liebig, K.M. Thierfelder and W.G. Kunz declare that they have no competing interests.

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Detailed CT examination protocols, analysis of subacute stroke complications and further statistical analysis including interaction terms.

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Schuler, F., Rotkopf, L.T., Apel, D. et al. Differential Benefit of Collaterals for Stroke Patients Treated with Thrombolysis or Supportive Care. Clin Neuroradiol 30, 525–533 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00062-019-00815-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00062-019-00815-y

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