BACKGROUND: Despite the lack of supporting evidence, intravenous heparin is still given frequently in the treatment of cerebral ischemia. However, there is only one study for the use of heparin nomogram in ischemic stroke or TIA. We evaluated the usefulness of a patient-specific, as well as weight-based, nomogram for the intravenous heparin in patients with ischemic stroke or TIA. METHODS: From Sep. 2004 to Sep. 2005, we recruited ischemic stroke patients treated according to the specifically designed heparin nomogram. The therapeutic range (TR) of activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and dose adjustment were specified as a ratio of each patient's baseline aPTT. The first time to achieve TR (TR-time), to exceed therapeutic threshold (TE-time) and the fraction of time in TR (total time in TR/total time of heparin use, %) were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 45 patients were included. The mean fraction of time in TR was 72.7+/-14.4%. Although TR-time and TE-time did not differ according to the use of bolus injection, the fraction of first aPTT at 6 hours after start of infusion in TR was higher with bolus than without bolus (84.8 vs. 58.3, p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our nomogram could achieve and maintain therapeutic heparin anticoagulation effectively. Initial bolus injection may be better to achieve therapeutic anticoagulation more rapidly.
Brain Ischemia ; Heparin* ; Humans ; Nomograms* ; Partial Thromboplastin Time ; Stroke*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Patients with isolated vertigo could have central or peripheral vestibular disorders. Although some differential points exist between the two conditions, sometimes it is not easy to differentiate central vertigo from that of peripheral vestibular origin, especially in patients with isolated vertigo. We performed this study to determine the frequency of acute infarction and predictors of vertigo associated with stroke in isolated spontaneous vertigo. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We prospectively evaluated 185 consecutive patients who were admitted to neurology department with acute isolated vertigo, after excluding the patients with benign paroxysmal positioning vertigo. Diffusion-weighted MRI (DWI) was obtained in 161 (87.0%) patients. Demographics, stroke risk factors, associated symptoms and signs were reviewed. Also, the locations and vascular territories of the lesions on DWI were investigated. RESULTS: Twenty three (14.3%) patients had acute infarction on DWI. Old age and male sex were the predictors of stroke using multivariate analysis (p=0.03 and 0.02). The lesions were located in the cerebellum in 17 patients, medulla in four, and pons in another four. Cerebellar lesions were in the territory of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery in all patients. CONCLUSION: Isolated spontaneous vertigo may develop in posterior circulation stroke, especially in men of old age. The possibility of central origin should be considered in patients with isolated vertigo and DWI might be a good diagnostic tool.
Arteries ; Cerebellum ; Cerebral Infarction ; Demography ; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Humans ; Infarction ; Male ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neurology ; Pons ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Stroke ; Vertigo