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Aims We sought to investigate the risk factors of blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption, and its potential impact on 90-day clinical outcome in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients after reperfusion therapy. Methods Consecutive acute anterior circulation AIS patients imaged with computed tomographic perfusion (CTP) before reperfusion therapy were included. Tmax >6 s was used for the volumetric measurement of the hypoperfusion area. BBB permeability (BBBP) was calculated as the average relative permeability-surface area product (rPS) within the hypoperfusion region (rPS hypo-i ) and its contralateral mirror region (rPS hypo-c ) on CTP-derived PS color maps. Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score was obtained at 90-day post-stroke. Results A total of 187 patients were included, among whom the median age was 73 (61–80) years and 76 (40.6%) were women. Median baseline NIHSS score was 12 (7– 16). Ninety-eight (52.4%) patients had mRS score >2. Increased rPS hypo-i and rPS hypo-c were both independently associated with males and large infarct volume. The increased rPS hypo-i was also independently associated with a history of atrial fibrillation and high NIHSS score. Multivariable analysis showed higher rPS hypo-c was independently associated with higher mRS (OR: 1.064, 95% CI 1.011 to 1.121; P=0.018). Conclusion BBBP in both the hypoperfusion region and its contralateral mirror region are associated with stroke severity, but only increased BBBP in the contralateral mirror hypoperfusion region relates to worse outcome after reperfusion therapy.
Liu et al. (Fri,) studied this question.