Background: and Purpose Limited evidence exists on the effectiveness of endovascular treatment (EVT) for acute posterior circulation tandem lesion (PCTL). This study aimed to explore the role of extracranial vertebral artery (VA) stenting in patients with PCTL stroke undergoing EVT. Methods: Individual patient data were pooled from the BASILAR (EVT for Acute Basilar Artery Occlusion Study) and PERSIST (Posterior Circulation Ischemic Stroke) registries. Patients with PCTLs who underwent EVT were included in the present cohort and divided into the stenting and nonstenting groups based on the placement of extracranial VA stents. The primary efficacy outcome was the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores at 90 days and 1 year. Safety outcomes included 24-hour symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) and all-cause mortality at 90 days and 1 year post-surgery. Results: A combined dataset of 1,320 patients with posterior circulation artery occlusion, including 263 (19.9%) with tandem lesions, of whom 217 (median age, 65 years; 82.9% male) met the inclusion criteria for the analysis. The stenting group had 84 (38.7%) patients, while the non-stenting group had 133 (61.3%). After adjustment for the potential confounders, extracranial VA stenting was associated with favorable shifts in mRS scores at both 90 days (adjusted common odds ratio [OR], 2.30; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.23–4.28; P<0.01) and 1 year (adjusted OR [aOR], 2.04; 95% CI [1.05–3.97]; P=0.04), along with lower rate of mortality at both 90 days (aOR, 0.45; 95% CI [0.21–0.93]; P=0.01) and 1 year (aOR, 0.36; 95% CI [0.16–0.79]; P=0.01), with no significant difference in sICH incidence (aOR, 0.35; 95% CI [0.06–1.98]; P=0.24). Conclusion Extracranial VA stenting during EVT may improve functional outcomes and reduce mortality in patients with PCTL strokes.

Background: and Purpose Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is a leading cause of disability worldwide. While intravenous thrombolysis is recommended within 4.5 hours of last known well (LKW) time, many patients present beyond this window. Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating tenecteplase (TNK) administration in AIS patients within 4.5 to 24 hours of LKW. The primary outcomes assessed functional independence and ordinal modified Rankin Scale (mRS) shift at 90 days. Safety outcomes included symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) and mortality at 90 days. Results: Three RCTs were included, comprising 1,054 patients (532 TNK and 522 standard medical therapy) with a mean age of 69 years, 59% males, and median baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score of 10.5. TNK treatment was associated with mRS 0–2 at 90 days (odds ratio [OR]: 1.33, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.04–1.70, P=0.023), indicating a 33% higher likelihood of achieving functional independence. However, the ordinal mRS shift showed no significant difference (standardized mean difference: 0.01, 95% CI: -0.37–0.39, P=0.09). Safety outcomes indicated no difference in the rates of sICH (OR: 2.07, 95% CI: 0.86–5.00, P=0.1), and no difference in 90-day mortality (OR: 1.08, 95% CI: 0.76–1.53, P=0.67). Conclusion This meta-analysis suggests TNK might be safe and effective for selected AIS patients in the 4.5- to 24-hour time window, offering improved functional outcomes without a significant increase in hemorrhagic complications.

Background: Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an autoimmune condition characterized by low platelet count and increased risk of bleeding. Several pathophysiological processes contribute to the disease, including complement activation by autoantibodies bound to platelet surfaces. This study aimed to assess complement levels in ITP patients and determine their correlation with clinical presentation and disease severity.Patients and methods This case–control study enrolled 40 patients (both sexes, aged 18–40 years) with primary ITP and 40 healthy controls. All participants underwent a comprehensive health assessment, thorough physical examination, laboratory investigations, and abdominal ultrasound. These included a complete blood count (CBC) with blood film, renal and hepatic function tests, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis C virus antibodies (HCV-Abs), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibodies, hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb), C-reactive protein (CRP), antinuclear antibody (ANA), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), serum complement levels (C3 and C4), and Helicobacter pylori antigen in stool. Results: Mean C3 and C4 levels were significantly lower in patients with ITP than in healthy controls. A statistical significant negative correlation was found between CRP and C4 levels in ITP patients. However, no statistically significant relationship was observed between C3 and C4 levels and platelet count in ITP patients, regardless of the presence of bleeding complications. Conclusion Complement levels were significantly lower in patients with ITP than in healthy controls. Complement levels were also significantly lower in treatment-naïve patients than in patients who received treatment. Therefore, complement levels could serve as a valuable laboratory test for disease activity.

Background: and Purpose Limited evidence exists on the effectiveness of endovascular treatment (EVT) for acute posterior circulation tandem lesion (PCTL). This study aimed to explore the role of extracranial vertebral artery (VA) stenting in patients with PCTL stroke undergoing EVT. Methods: Individual patient data were pooled from the BASILAR (EVT for Acute Basilar Artery Occlusion Study) and PERSIST (Posterior Circulation Ischemic Stroke) registries. Patients with PCTLs who underwent EVT were included in the present cohort and divided into the stenting and nonstenting groups based on the placement of extracranial VA stents. The primary efficacy outcome was the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores at 90 days and 1 year. Safety outcomes included 24-hour symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) and all-cause mortality at 90 days and 1 year post-surgery. Results: A combined dataset of 1,320 patients with posterior circulation artery occlusion, including 263 (19.9%) with tandem lesions, of whom 217 (median age, 65 years; 82.9% male) met the inclusion criteria for the analysis. The stenting group had 84 (38.7%) patients, while the non-stenting group had 133 (61.3%). After adjustment for the potential confounders, extracranial VA stenting was associated with favorable shifts in mRS scores at both 90 days (adjusted common odds ratio [OR], 2.30; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.23–4.28; P<0.01) and 1 year (adjusted OR [aOR], 2.04; 95% CI [1.05–3.97]; P=0.04), along with lower rate of mortality at both 90 days (aOR, 0.45; 95% CI [0.21–0.93]; P=0.01) and 1 year (aOR, 0.36; 95% CI [0.16–0.79]; P=0.01), with no significant difference in sICH incidence (aOR, 0.35; 95% CI [0.06–1.98]; P=0.24). Conclusion Extracranial VA stenting during EVT may improve functional outcomes and reduce mortality in patients with PCTL strokes.

Background: and Purpose Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is a leading cause of disability worldwide. While intravenous thrombolysis is recommended within 4.5 hours of last known well (LKW) time, many patients present beyond this window. Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating tenecteplase (TNK) administration in AIS patients within 4.5 to 24 hours of LKW. The primary outcomes assessed functional independence and ordinal modified Rankin Scale (mRS) shift at 90 days. Safety outcomes included symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) and mortality at 90 days. Results: Three RCTs were included, comprising 1,054 patients (532 TNK and 522 standard medical therapy) with a mean age of 69 years, 59% males, and median baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score of 10.5. TNK treatment was associated with mRS 0–2 at 90 days (odds ratio [OR]: 1.33, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.04–1.70, P=0.023), indicating a 33% higher likelihood of achieving functional independence. However, the ordinal mRS shift showed no significant difference (standardized mean difference: 0.01, 95% CI: -0.37–0.39, P=0.09). Safety outcomes indicated no difference in the rates of sICH (OR: 2.07, 95% CI: 0.86–5.00, P=0.1), and no difference in 90-day mortality (OR: 1.08, 95% CI: 0.76–1.53, P=0.67). Conclusion This meta-analysis suggests TNK might be safe and effective for selected AIS patients in the 4.5- to 24-hour time window, offering improved functional outcomes without a significant increase in hemorrhagic complications.