International Stroke Conference (ISC) 2020

Brain stent reduces recurrent stroke risk within first year post-stenting in WOVEN trial

20200609091000

Stenting cholesterol-blocked arteries in the brain appears to reduce recurrent stroke risk in patients with intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD), one-year results of the WOVEN* trial, presented at the International Stroke Conference (ISC) 2020, have shown.

Adding cilostazol to other antiplatelet agents could reduce post-CAS restenosis risk

Roshini Claire Anthony, 20200331140032

Adding cilostazol to other antiplatelet agents could potentially reduce in-stent restenosis (ISR) among patients with carotid artery stenosis who undergo carotid artery stenting (CAS), according to results of the CAS-CARE* trial presented at ISC 2020.

Apixaban outperforms warfarin regardless of prior stroke, TIA, or TE

Elvira Manzano, 20200331114000

Apixaban outperformed warfarin in preventing ischaemic events regardless of prior stroke, transient ischaemic attack (TIA), or thromboembolic event (TE) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) with recent acute coronary syndrome (ACS) or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), a prespecified secondary analysis of the AUGUSTUS trial has shown.

Is there a role for nerinetide following ischaemic stroke?

Roshini Claire Anthony, 20200325140101

The eicosapeptide nerinetide did not improve outcomes in patients with large vessel occlusion-related acute ischaemic stroke who underwent endovascular thrombectomy (EVT). However, patients not treated with alteplase appeared to derive some benefit, results from the multinational ESCAPE-NA1* trial showed.

Could prompt tranexamic acid treatment reduce ICH growth?

Roshini Claire Anthony, 20200323140101

Prompt treatment with tranexamic acid may reduce intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) growth in patients with ongoing bleeding, though the timing of treatment appears to be key to improved outcomes, according to a study presented at ISC 2020.

0.25 mg/kg tenecteplase sufficient for large-vessel stroke

Pearl Toh, 20200319190000

The lower 0.25 mg/kg dose of the thrombolytic tenecteplase may be sufficient for reperfusion of blocked vessels prior to thrombectomy in patients with ischaemic stroke due to large-vessel occlusion compared with the 0.4 mg/kg dose, according to the EXTEND-IA TNK* Part 2 study presented at the ISC 2020 Meeting.

Shingles vaccine may prevent strokes

Roshini Claire Anthony, 20200318140102

Vaccination against herpes zoster (shingles) with the Zoster Vaccine Live (ZVL) vaccine may reduce the risk of stroke in older adults, according to a study presented at the recent ISC 2020 conference.

tPA before mechanical thrombectomy: To SKIP or not?

Elaine Soliven, 20200318081929

Skipping intravenous (IV) tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) before mechanical thrombectomy (MT) may have similarly favourable outcomes to using tPA pre-MT in patients with acute stroke, according to the SKIP* study presented at ISC 2020.

Telemonitoring + telephone-based counselling improves BP in stroke survivors

Elaine Soliven, 20200318000000

Home blood pressure telemonitoring (HBPTM) combined with telephone-based nurse case management (NCM) led to a greater reduction in systolic blood pressure (BP) among minority stroke survivors with uncontrolled hypertension than HBPTM alone, according to a study presented at ISC 2020.

Robot used to treat brain aneurysm for the first time

Elvira Manzano, 20200317144000

For the first time, surgeons have successfully used a robot to treat brain aneurysm, a study presented at ISC 2020 has shown. This would eventually allow for remote robotic surgery in patients with limited or no access to endovascular treatments currently.