Association Between Cerebral Autoregulation and Long-Term Outcome in Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke

Yanxia Shen1, Yanxia Zhou2, Juan Xiong3

  • 1Department of Neurology, South China Hospital of Shenzhen University.

The Neurologist
|June 9, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Dynamic cerebral autoregulation (CA) predicts outcomes in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients. Impaired CA, indicated by lower phase values, is linked to poorer long-term recovery after stroke.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Cardiovascular Science
  • Medical Technology

Background:

  • Dynamic cerebral autoregulation (CA) is often impaired in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS).
  • The predictive value of dynamic CA for long-term outcomes in AIS patients remains unclear.
  • Understanding CA's role is crucial for improving stroke patient management and prognostication.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate whether dynamic CA can predict long-term outcomes in patients with AIS.
  • To identify specific dynamic CA indices that correlate with patient recovery.
  • To establish dynamic CA as a potential prognostic marker in AIS.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective study of 103 AIS patients within 7 days of onset.
  • Measured middle cerebral artery blood flow velocity and blood pressure using transcranial Doppler and Finometer.
  • Calculated dynamic CA indices (phase and gain) via transfer function analysis.
  • Assessed patient outcomes at 3 and 12 months using the modified Rankin Scale.

Main Results:

  • Lower ipsilesional phase parameters were significantly associated with unfavorable outcomes.
  • The ipsilesional phase parameter and NIH Stroke Scale score predicted both short-term and long-term outcomes.
  • Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed the ipsilesional phase parameter had predictive value (AUC=0.646, P=0.044) with an optimal cut-off of 20.33 degrees.

Conclusions:

  • Dynamic CA is an independent predictor of outcomes at 3 and 12 months post-AIS.
  • The ipsilesional phase parameter serves as a valuable prognostic indicator for AIS patients.
  • These findings support the integration of dynamic CA assessment in stroke care for improved outcome prediction.
Abstract