Intra-arterial recanalization techniques for patients 80 years or older with acute ischemic stroke: pooled analysis from 4 prospective studies.

background and purposePrevious studies have demonstrated limited benefit with endovascular procedures such as stent placement in octogenarians. We evaluated the safety and effectiveness of intra-arterial recanalization techniques to treat ischemic stroke in patients 80 years or older presenting within 6 hours of symptom onset. MATERIALS AND

methodsWe pooled the data from 4 prospective studies by evaluating intra-arterial recanalization techniques for treatment of ischemic stroke. Clinical and radiologic evaluations were performed before treatment and at 24 hours, 7 to 10 days, and 1 to 3 months after treatment. We performed multivariate analyses to evaluate the effect of ages 80 years and older on angiographic recanalization, favorable outcome (modified Rankin scale of 0-2), and mortality rate at 1 to 3 months.

resultsA total of 101 patients were treated in the 4 protocols. Of these, 24 were 80 years or older. There was no significant difference between the 2 age groups in sex, initial stroke severity, time to treatment, site of vascular occlusion, and rate of symptomatic and asymptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (ICH). In logistic regression analysis, age 80 years or older was associated with a lower likelihood of a favorable outcome (odds ratio [OR], 0.40; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.13-1.2; P = .11) and recanalization (OR, 0.36; 95% CI, 0.12-1.1; P = .07) and with higher mortality rate (OR, 3.17; 95% CI, 1.05-9.55; P = .04) after adjusting for study protocol. After adjusting for recanalization in addition to study protocol, the older age group still had a lower likelihood of favorable outcomes (OR, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.1-1.1; P = .07) and higher mortality rates (OR, 3.62; 95% CI, 1.15-11.36; P = .027).

conclusionsOur study demonstrates that patients 80 years and older are at higher risk for poor outcome at 1 to 3 months following intra-arterial recanalization techniques. This relationship is independent of recanalization rate and symptomatic ICH supporting the role of other mechanisms.