Peter A Ringleb

Publications (28)251.34 Total impact

• Article: Cerebral amyloid angiopathy - an underdiagnosed entity in younger adults with lobar intracerebral hemorrhage?

  Jan C Purrucker, Ernst Hund, Peter A Ringleb, Christian Hartmann, Stefan Rohde, Stefan Schönland, Thorsten Steiner
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  ABSTRACT: Abstract Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is a progressive microvascular amyloidosis affecting the small- and medium-sized arterioles and the capillaries of brain parenchyma and leptomeninges, and is recognized as a cause of lobar intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). We report two patients who experienced recurrent ICH due to CAA at an age of 37 (A) and 42 (B) years, respectively. The classic and modified Boston criteria for the diagnosis of CAA include an age limit of 55 years if no biopsy or postmortem examination is performed; CAA is typically not considered in the differential diagnosis of lobar ICH in younger patients. We assume that sporadic CAA is an underdiagnosed entity in younger adults with lobar ICH. Abbreviations: Aβ, amyloid β protein; AβPP: amyloid precursor protein; CAA: cerebral amyloid angiopathy; CSF: cerebrospinal fluid; ICH: intracerebral hemorrhage; MRI: magnetic resonance image; SNP: single-nucleotide-polymorphism; SWI: susceptibility weighted MR imaging; TBI: traumatic brain injury; vwD: von Willebrand disease; vWF: von Willebrand factor.
  Amyloid: the international journal of experimental and clinical investigation: the official journal of the International Society of Amyloidosis 12/2012; · 2.12 Impact Factor
• Article: Blood pressure variability after intravenous thrombolysis in acute stroke does not predict intracerebral hemorrhage but poor outcome.

  Lars Kellert, Marek Sykora, Christoph Gumbinger, Oliver Herrmann, Peter A Ringleb
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  ABSTRACT: The relevance of blood pressure variability (BPV) in the development of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) after intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) in acute stroke still remains uncertain. 427 consecutive patients treated with IVT in the years 2007-2009 were studied. Blood pressure (BP) values were analyzed from admission to follow-up imaging scan and described as mean, maximum, minimum, standard deviation (SD), difference between maximum and minimum, successive variation (SV) and maximum SV. ICH was categorized based on radiologic criteria and symptomatic ICH (sICH) was defined as ICH plus worsening of the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale by ≥4 points or leading to death. Three-month outcome was described by means of the modified Rankin Scale. We observed any ICH in 51 (11.9%) and sICH in 10 (2.3%) patients. Systolic and diastolic BP profiles, including mean, maximum, minimum, SD, difference between maximum and minimum, SV and maximum SV, did not differ between ICH-negative, ICH-positive and sICH patients. In univariate analysis, high systolic BPV was associated with sICH (p = 0.03). A logistic regression model to predict ICH only found early CT findings (OR = 2.74, 95% CI = 1.47-5.11, p < 0.01) as independently associated with ICH. Poor 3-month outcome was independently predicted by age (OR = 0.96, 95% CI = 0.94-0.97, p < 0.001), NIHSS on admission (OR = 0.84, 95% CI = 0.80-0.87, p < 0.001), ICH (OR = 0.29, 95% CI = 0.13-0.66, p < 0.01) and high systolic BPV (OR = 1.68, 95% CI = 1.05-2.69, p < 0.05). We demonstrate that high BPV in patients receiving IVT leads to poor outcome but does not increase the risk of ICH/sICH.
  Cerebrovascular Diseases 12/2011; 33(2):135-40. · 2.72 Impact Factor
• Article: Observation of indirect neorevascularization after leptomeningeal biopsy in a 34-year-old woman with moyamoya syndrome--should burr holes be considered as an alternative revascularization technique in younger adults with moyamoya?

  Jan C Purrucker, Stefan Rohde, Sibylle Stampfl, Peter A Ringleb
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  ABSTRACT: No abstract available.
  Cerebrovascular Diseases 12/2011; 33(1):94-5. · 2.72 Impact Factor
• Article: Herpes simplex virus encephalitis despite normal cell count in the cerebrospinal fluid.

  Nurith J Jakob, Thorsten Lenhard, Paul Schnitzler, Stefan Rohde, Peter A Ringleb, Thorsten Steiner, Brigitte Wildemann
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  ABSTRACT: To describe herpes simplex virus encephalitis despite normal cell count in the cerebrospinal fluid in patients with malignoma after whole brain irradiation. Blood and cerebrospinal fluid analysis and magnetic resonance imaging. Three male and two female patients with malignoma and a recent history of whole-brain irradiation presented with impaired consciousness with or without epileptic seizure. Although cerebrospinal fluid analysis revealed a normal cell count, herpes simplex virus DNA was detected in all samples by polymerase chain reaction. In patients with impaired consciousness, epileptic seizure, or temporal lobe symptoms of new onset and a recent history of brain irradiation with normal cerebrospinal fluid, an atypical anergic course of herpes simplex virus encephalitis should be considered. Herpes simplex virus polymerase chain reaction should be used as method of choice to detect herpes simplex virus genomes as early as possible rather than relying on routine cerebrospinal fluid parameters. Importantly, antiviral therapy should be started without delay in any case of faint suspicion and should be continued until herpes simplex virus encephalitis is clearly ruled out.
  Critical care medicine 11/2011; 40(4):1304-8. · 6.37 Impact Factor
• Article: Cerebral oxygen transport failure?: decreasing hemoglobin and hematocrit levels after ischemic stroke predict poor outcome and mortality: STroke: RelevAnt Impact of hemoGlobin, Hematocrit and Transfusion (STRAIGHT)--an observational study.

  Lars Kellert, Evgenia Martin, Marek Sykora, Harald Bauer, Philipp Gussmann, Jennifer Diedler, Christian Herweh, Peter A Ringleb, Werner Hacke, Thorsten Steiner, Julian Bösel
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  ABSTRACT: Although conceivably relevant for penumbra oxygenation, the optimal levels of hemoglobin (Hb) and hematocrit (Hct) in patients with acute ischemic stroke are unknown. We identified patients from our prospective local stroke database who received intravenous thrombolysis based on multimodal magnet resonance imaging during the years 1998 to 2009. A favorable outcome at 3 months was defined as a modified Rankin Scale score≤2 and a poor outcome as a modified Rankin Scale score≥3. The dynamics of Hemoglobin (Hb), Hematocrit (Hct), and other relevant laboratory parameters as well as cardiovascular risk factors were retrospectively assessed and analyzed between these 2 groups. Of 217 patients, 114 had a favorable and 103 a poor outcome. In a multivariable regression model, anemia until day 5 after admission (odds ratio [OR]=2.61; 95% CI, 1.33 to 5.11; P=0.005), Hb nadir (OR=0.81; 95% CI, 0.67 to 0.99; P=0.038), and Hct nadir (OR=0.93; 95% CI, 0.87 to 0.99; P=0.038) remained independent predictors for poor outcome at 3 months. Mortality after 3 months was independently associated with Hb nadir (OR=0.80; 95% CI, 0.65 to 0.98; P=0.028) and Hb decrease (OR=1.34; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.76; P=0.04) as well as Hct decrease (OR=1.12; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.23; P=0.027). Poor outcome and mortality after ischemic stroke are strongly associated with low and further decreasing Hb and Hct levels. This decrease of Hb and Hct levels after admission might be more relevant and accessible to treatment than are baseline levels.
  Stroke 08/2011; 42(10):2832-7. · 5.73 Impact Factor
• Article: Mechanical thrombectomy in acute embolic stroke: preliminary results with the revive device.

  Stefan Rohde, Stefan Haehnel, Christian Herweh, Mirko Pham, Sibylle Stampfl, Peter A Ringleb, Martin Bendszus
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  ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and technical feasibility of a new thrombectomy device (Revive; Micrus Endovascular) in the endovascular treatment of acute ischemic stroke. Ten patients with acute large vessel occlusions were treated with the Revive device between October 2010 and December 2010. Mean National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale on admission was 19.0; mean duration of symptoms was 172 minutes. Recanalization was assessed using the Thrombolysis In Cerebral Infarction score. Clinical outcome (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale) after thrombectomy was determined on Day 1, at discharge, and at Day 30. Vessel recanalization (Thrombolysis In Cerebral Infarction 2b or 3) was successful in all patients without device-related complications. Mean National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale 24 hours after the intervention, at discharge, and at Day 30 was 14.0, 11.5, and 5.1, respectively. At Day 30, 6 patients had a clinical improvement of >8 points or an National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale of 0 to 1, 1 patient showed minor improvement, and 3 patients had died. Symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage occurred in 2 patients, of which 1 was fatal. Thrombectomy with the Revive device in patients with stroke with acute large vessel occlusions demonstrated to be technically safe and highly effective. Clinical safety and efficacy have to be established in larger clinical trials.
  Stroke 08/2011; 42(10):2954-6. · 5.73 Impact Factor
• Article: Frequency of increased blood pressure levels during systemic thrombolysis and risk of intracerebral hemorrhage.

  Lars Kellert, Andrea Rocco, Marek Sykora, Werner Hacke, Peter A Ringleb
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  ABSTRACT: Significantly increased blood pressure (BP) is common in patients receiving intravenous thrombolysis (IVT). We aimed to investigate frequency of pre- and post-treatment elevated BP and its relation to intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and symptomatic ICH (sICH), respectively. Data for patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis in the years 2007 to 2009 were retrospectively extracted from our prospectively conducted local stroke database. All documented BP levels from admission to follow-up imaging scan were analyzed. BP protocol violations were defined as systolic BP >185 mm Hg and/or diastolic BP >110 mm Hg. sICH was defined as ICH plus worsening of the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale ≥4 points. BP protocol violation before IVT emerged in 12.6% and during the course of IVT in 40.1% of 427 patients. sICH occurred in 10 (2.3%) and ICH in general occurred in 51 (11.9%) of 427 patients. Proportions of BP protocol violations were similar in patients without ICH, with any ICH, and with sICH (3.1% versus 2.8% versus 3.2%). Systolic BP levels and mean arterial pressure did not differ between patients without ICH, patients with any ICH, and patients with sICH. In the multivariate analysis, only early CT findings independently predicted ICH (OR, 2.39; 95% CI, 1.25-4.61; P=0.009). BP protocol violations are common before and during the course of IVT, but neither the frequency of BP protocol violations nor the BP levels predicted ICH or sICH in univariate or multivariate analyses.
  Stroke 06/2011; 42(6):1702-6. · 5.73 Impact Factor
• Article: Evaluation of the obesity genes FTO and MC4R and the type 2 diabetes mellitus gene TCF7L2 for contribution to stroke risk: The Mannheim-Heidelberg Stroke Study.

  Yaroslav Winter, Tobias Back, André Scherag, Jakob Linseisen, Sabine Rohrmann, Oliver Lanczik, Anke Hinney, Susann Scherag, Michael Neumaier, Peter A Ringleb, Richard Dodel, Johannes Hebebrand
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  ABSTRACT: Studies evaluating genetic markers for vascular risk and risk of stroke are limited, and none of them evaluated obesity genes. The objective was to investigate the genetic markers related to obesity genes FTO and MC4R and the gene of type 2 diabetes mellitus TCF7L2 for their contribution to risk of stroke and transient ischemic attacks (TIA). We recruited 379 consecutive patients with stroke/TIA and 379 healthy population-based controls. The single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs9937053 (FTO), rs2229616 (MC4R V103I), rs17782313 (188kb downstream of MC4R), and rs7903146 (TCF7L2) were evaluated for association with stroke using logistic regression analyses. The odds ratios for stroke/TIA were 1.14 (95%CI 0.91-1.42) for rs9937053/FTO, 1.11 (95%CI 0.49-2.51) for rs2229616/MC4R, 1.05 (95%CI 0.82-1.3) for rs17782313/MC4R, and 0.99 (95%CI 0.78-1.25) for rs7903146/TCF7L2. Further exploration revealed that male patients with the T allele of rs7903146/TCF7L2 had a worse clinical outcome compared with male patients carrying the C allele. The observed trends of obesity risk alleles for risk of stroke/TIA as well as the possible sex-specific differences in clinical outcomes found for the TCF7L2 (rs7903146) require replication in future studies. Our study demonstrates that candidate gene studies for common stroke may benefit from focusing on polymorphisms that predispose to vascular risk.
  Obesity Facts 01/2011; 4(4):290-6. · 1.86 Impact Factor
• Article: Stenting versus endarterectomy for carotid-artery stenosis.

  Jean-Louis Mas, Martin M Brown, Peter A Ringleb
  New England Journal of Medicine 10/2010; 363(18):1766-7; author reply 1768. · 53.30 Impact Factor
• Article: Carotid artery stenting still plays a role, even after the publication of the International Carotid Stenting Study safety results.

  Peter A Ringleb, Tilman Reiff, Werner Hacke
  International Journal of Stroke 06/2010; 5(3):167-9. · 2.38 Impact Factor
• Article: Carotid artery stenting versus surgery: adequate comparisons? - Triallists' reply.

  Martin M Brown, Jean-Louis Mas, Peter A Ringleb, Werner Hacke
  The Lancet Neurology 02/2010; · 23.46 Impact Factor
• Article: Long-term outcome after surgical treatment for space-occupying cerebellar infarction: experience in 56 patients.

  Eric Jüttler, Sonja Schweickert, Peter A Ringleb, Hagen B Huttner, Martin Köhrmann, Alfred Aschoff
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  ABSTRACT: Surgical management of space-occupying cerebellar infarction is still controversial. Data on long-term outcome are lacking. The objective of this study was (1) to evaluate outcome after at least 3 years poststroke in patients with space-occupying cerebellar infarction treated by ventriculostomy/extraventricular drainage (EVD) or suboccipital decompressive craniectomy (SDC), or both, and (2) to determine predicting factors for outcome. In this retrospective single-center study 56 consecutive patients with acute space-occupying cerebellar infarction treated surgically between 1996 and 2005 were included. Baseline data included clinical findings, Glasgow Coma Scale on admission and before surgery, NIHSS on admission, mass effects on neuroimaging, and surgical treatment strategies. Modified Rankin Scale, NIHSS, and Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia were used to assess outcome. 39.3% of patients had died, 51.8% had a mRS < or =3, 35.7% had a mRS < or =2, 28.6% had a mRS < or =1. There were no significant differences in survival between treatment groups. In multivariate analysis age and mRS score at discharge were the most evident independent predictors for outcome. So far this is the largest study on long-term outcome after space-occupying cerebellar infarction. The value of different treatment strategies and prognostic factors for patient selection remain unclear and should be evaluated in larger prospective case-series or registries. To investigate the issue of preventive SDC randomized trials are needed.
  Stroke 07/2009; 40(9):3060-6. · 5.73 Impact Factor
• Article: Intravenous desmoteplase in patients with acute ischaemic stroke selected by MRI perfusion-diffusion weighted imaging or perfusion CT (DIAS-2): a prospective, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

  Werner Hacke, Anthony J Furlan, Yasir Al-Rawi, Antoni Davalos, Jochen B Fiebach, Franz Gruber, Markku Kaste, Leslie J Lipka, Salvador Pedraza, Peter A Ringleb, Howard A Rowley, Dietmar Schneider, Lee H Schwamm, Joaquin Serena Leal, Mariola Söhngen, Phil A Teal, Karin Wilhelm-Ogunbiyi, Max Wintermark, Steven Warach
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  ABSTRACT: Previous studies have suggested that desmoteplase, a novel plasminogen activator, has clinical benefit when given 3-9 h after the onset of the symptoms of stroke in patients with presumptive tissue at risk that is identified by magnetic resonance perfusion imaging (PI) and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). In this randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind, dose-ranging study, patients with acute ischaemic stroke and tissue at risk seen on either MRI or CT imaging were randomly assigned (1:1:1) to 90 microg/kg desmoteplase, 125 microg/kg desmoteplase, or placebo within 3-9 h after the onset of symptoms of stroke. The primary endpoint was clinical response rates at day 90, defined as a composite of improvement in National Institutes of Health stroke scale (NIHSS) score of 8 points or more or an NIHSS score of 1 point or less, a modified Rankin scale score of 0-2 points, and a Barthel index of 75-100. Secondary endpoints included change in lesion volume between baseline and day 30, rates of symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage, and mortality rates. Analysis was by intention to treat. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT00111852. Between June, 2005, and March, 2007, 193 patients were randomised, and 186 patients received treatment: 57 received 90 microg/kg desmoteplase; 66 received 125 microg/kg desmoteplase; and 63 received placebo. 158 patients completed the study. The median baseline NIHSS score was 9 (IQR 6-14) points, and 30% (53 of 179) of the patients had a visible occlusion of a vessel at presentation. The core lesion and the mismatch volumes were small (median volumes were 10.6 cm(3) and 52.5 cm(3), respectively). The clinical response rates at day 90 were 47% (27 of 57) for 90 microg/kg desmoteplase, 36% (24 of 66) for 125 microg/kg desmoteplase, and 46% (29 of 63) for placebo. The median changes in lesion volume were: 90 microg/kg desmoteplase 14.0% (0.5 cm(3)); 125 microg/kg desmoteplase 10.8% (0.3 cm(3)); placebo -10.0% (-0.9 cm(3)). The rates of symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage were 3.5% (2 of 57) for 90 microg/kg desmoteplase, 4.5% (3 of 66) for 125 microg/kg desmoteplase, and 0% for placebo. The overall mortality rate was 11% (5% [3 of 57] for 90 microg/kg desmoteplase; 21% [14 of 66] for 125 microg/kg desmoteplase; and 6% [4 of 63] for placebo). The DIAS-2 study did not show a benefit of desmoteplase given 3-9 h after the onset of stroke. The high response rate in the placebo group could be explained by the mild strokes recorded (low baseline NIHSS scores, small core lesions, and small mismatch volumes that were associated with no vessel occlusions), which possibly reduced the potential to detect any effect of desmoteplase. PAION Deutschland GmbH; Forest Laboratories.
  The Lancet Neurology 01/2009; 8(2):141-50. · 23.46 Impact Factor
• Article: Contribution of obesity and abdominal fat mass to risk of stroke and transient ischemic attacks.

  Yaroslav Winter, Sabine Rohrmann, Jakob Linseisen, Oliver Lanczik, Peter A Ringleb, Johannes Hebebrand, Tobias Back
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  ABSTRACT: Waist circumference has been shown to be a better predictor of cardiovascular risk than body mass index (BMI). Our case-control study aimed to evaluate the contribution of obesity and abdominal fat mass to the risk of stroke and transient ischemic attacks (TIA). We recruited 1137 participants: 379 cases with stroke/TIA and 758 regional controls matched for age and sex. Associations between different markers of obesity (BMI, waist-to-hip ratio, waist circumference and waist-to-stature ratio) and risk of stroke/TIA were assessed by using conditional logistic regression adjusted for other risk factors. BMI showed a positive association with cerebrovascular risk which became nonsignificant after adjustment for physical inactivity, smoking, hypertension, and diabetes (odds ratio 1.18; 95% CI, 0.77 to 1.79, top tertile versus bottom tertile). Markers of abdominal adiposity were strongly associated with the risk of stroke/TIA. For the waist-to-hip ratio, adjusted odds ratios for every successive tertile were greater than that of the previous one (2nd tertile: 2.78, 1.57 to 4.91; 3rd tertile: 7.69, 4.53 to 13.03). Significant associations with the risk of stroke/TIA were also found for waist circumference and waist-to-stature ratio (odds ratio 4.25, 2.65 to 6.84 and odds ratio 4.67, 2.82 to 7.73, top versus bottom tertile after risk adjustment, respectively). Markers of abdominal adiposity showed a graded and significant association with risk of stroke/TIA, independent of other vascular risk factors. Waist circumference and related ratios can better predict cerebrovascular events than BMI.
  Stroke 09/2008; 39(12):3145-51. · 5.73 Impact Factor
• Article: Clinical and angiographic risk factors for stroke and death within 30 days after carotid endarterectomy and stent-protected angioplasty: a subanalysis of the SPACE study.

  Robert Stingele, Jürgen Berger, Karsten Alfke, Hans-Henning Eckstein, Gustav Fraedrich, Jens Allenberg, Marius Hartmann, Peter A Ringleb, Jens Fiehler, H Bruckmann, M Hennerici, O Jansen, G Klein, A Kunze, P Marx, K Niederkorn, W Schmiedt, L Solymosi, H Zeumer, W Hacke
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  ABSTRACT: Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and carotid artery stenting (CAS) are used to prevent ischaemic stroke in patients with stenosis of the internal carotid artery. Better knowledge of risk factors could improve assignment of patients to these procedures and reduce overall risk. We aimed to assess the risk of stroke or death associated with CEA and CAS in patients with different risk factors. We analysed data from 1196 patients randomised to CAS or CEA in the Stent-Protected Angioplasty versus Carotid Endarterectomy in Symptomatic Patients (SPACE) trial. The primary outcome event was death or ipsilateral stroke (ischaemic or haemorrhagic) with symptoms that lasted more than 24 h between randomisation and 30 days after therapy. Six predefined variables were assessed as potential risk factors for this outcome: age, sex, type of qualifying event, side of intervention, degree of stenosis, and presence of high-grade contralateral stenosis or occlusion. The SPACE trial is registered at Current Controlled Trials, with the international standard randomised controlled trial number ISRCTN57874028. Risk of ipsilateral stroke or death increased significantly with age in the CAS group (p=0.001) but not in the CEA group (p=0.534). Classification and regression tree analysis showed that the age that gave the greatest separation between high-risk and low-risk populations who had CAS was 68 years: the rate of primary outcome events was 2.7% (8/293) in patients who were 68 years old or younger and 10.8% (34/314) in older patients. Other variables did not differ between the CEA and CAS groups. Of the predefined covariates, only age was significantly associated with the risk of stroke and death. The lower risk after CAS versus CEA in patients up to 68 years of age was not detectable in older patients. This finding should be interpreted with caution because of the drawbacks of post-hoc analyses.
  The Lancet Neurology 04/2008; 7(3):216-22. · 23.46 Impact Factor
• Article: Safety of endovascular treatment of carotid artery stenosis compared with surgical treatment: a meta-analysis.

  Peter A Ringleb, Gilles Chatellier, Werner Hacke, Jean-Pierre Favre, Jean-Michel Bartoli, Hans H Eckstein, Jean-Louis Mas
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  ABSTRACT: Since publication of previous meta-analyses comparing endovascular and surgical treatment of patients with carotid artery stenosis, two further large-scale trials have been conducted, almost doubling the number of patients available for analysis. Therefore, it is justified to update these meta-analyses. Relevant trials were identified by a search of the literature using an electronic database. Trials with a nonrandomized patient allocation were not included. We focused on events within 30 days after intervention and made two sets of analysis: one with all trials and one with large trials exclusively including symptomatic patients. Only Endartérectomie Versus Angioplastie chez les patients ayant une Sténose carotide Symptomatique Serrée (EVA3S) and Stent-Supported Percutaneous Angioplasty of the Carotid Artery versus Endarterectomy (SPACE) were identified to be included in the updated meta-analysis. In total, 2985 patients were included in eight trials of which 89% were symptomatic. In contrast to previous analyses, this meta-analysis found a significant difference between the odds ratios of any stroke or death within 30 days after treatment with a disadvantage of endovascular treatment when analysing all trials (odds ratio [OR], 1.38; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04-1.83; P = .024). Significant heterogeneity was found for this analysis (P = .03). The increase of the odds of suffering from disabling stroke or death in the endovascular compared with the surgical group was not significant in the analysis of all trials (OR, 1.37; 95% CI, 0.92-2.04; P = .12); no heterogeneity was found for this analysis (P = .27). In the analysis of the large trials with symptomatic patients, the OR for the endpoint any stroke or death was 1.29 (95% CI 0.94-1.76; P = .11); with a hint for heterogeneity (P = .10). For the endpoint disabling stroke or death, the OR was 1.33 (95% CI 0.89-1.93; P =.17) without any heterogeneity (P = .58). The expressiveness of this meta-analysis is limited by the heterogeneity of some tests. The main result is that surgical treatment still remains the gold standard for treatment of patients with symptomatic carotid artery stenosis, who do not have an increased surgical risk. Carotid artery stenting is neither safer than nor as safe as carotid endarterectomy in large clinical trials when short-term stroke and death rates are taken into account. Further recruitment into ongoing randomized trials is strongly recommended.
  Journal of Vascular Surgery 03/2008; 47(2):350-5. · 3.21 Impact Factor
• Article: Stenting for carotid artery stenosis.

  Rolf Kern, Peter A Ringleb, Werner Hacke, Jean-Louis Mas, Michael G Hennerici
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  ABSTRACT: Stenting has increasingly been used for the treatment of carotid artery stenosis, although it is still unknown whether it is as safe and successful as carotid endarterectomy. Several studies have been published, and the preliminary results have been variable, with evidence both in favor of and against this procedure. In the past few months, primary outcome data have been published from two large European randomized multicenter trials (SPACE and EVA-3S). So far, both of these trials have evaluated whether carotid stenting shows noninferiority compared with carotid endarterectomy in symptomatic patients with severe carotid disease over a period of 30 days after intervention. In this Review, we summarize current knowledge on effectiveness of both procedures, and provide an updated meta-analysis based on randomized trial data, including SPACE and EVA-3S. This meta-analysis shows a lower procedure-related rate of stroke or death in surgically treated patients. The long-term risk/benefit ratio of carotid stenting remains to be determined. Two other randomized multicenter trials-ICSS and CREST-are ongoing. With an intended sample size of up to 7,000 patients, future meta-analyses will allow more-accurate treatment recommendations and subgroup analysis.
  Nature Clinical Practice Neurology 05/2007; 3(4):212-20. · 7.64 Impact Factor
• Article: Response to Letter by Norris and Menon.

  Wibke G Janzarik, Peter A Ringleb, Matthias Reinhard, Sebastian Rauer
  Stroke 04/2007; · 5.73 Impact Factor
• Article: Recurrent extracranial carotid artery vasospasms: report of 2 cases.

  Wibke G Janzarik, Peter A Ringleb, Matthias Reinhard, Sebastian Rauer
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  ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Spontaneous vasospasms of the submandibular internal carotid arteries are rarely observed. They are a highly dynamic process, recur frequently, and can be detected by serial ultrasound examinations. SUMMARY OF CASES: We present 2 cases of recurrent extracranial vasospasms of the internal carotid artery as a cause of stroke. In both cases, arterial dissection was initially suspected, but no intramural hematoma was detected on magnetic resonance imaging. Duplex sonography demonstrated recurrent high-grade stenoses of both internal carotid arteries that resolved spontaneously within hours to days. The vasospasms were treated with calcium antagonists and in 1 patient with oral corticoids. CONCLUSIONS: Extracranial vasospasms as a cause of stroke might be underestimated. Vasospasms of the internal carotid arteries should be considered in patients with recurring ischemic events in the absence of any other explanation. Antiphlogistic treatment in combination with calcium antagonists might be effective to reduce the frequency of vasospasms.
  Stroke 09/2006; 37(8):2170-3. · 5.73 Impact Factor
• Article: MRI versus CT-based thrombolysis treatment within and beyond the 3 h time window after stroke onset: a cohort study.

  Martin Köhrmann, Eric Jüttler, Jochen B Fiebach, Hagen B Huttner, Stefan Siebert, Christian Schwark, Peter A Ringleb, Peter D Schellinger, Werner Hacke
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  ABSTRACT: Thrombolytic treatment with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) is approved for use within 3 h after stroke onset. Thus only a small percentage of patients can benefit. Meta-analyses and more recent studies suggest a benefit for a subset of patients beyond 3 h. We assessed the safety and efficacy of an MRI-based selection protocol for stroke treatment within and beyond 3 h compared with standard CT-based treatment. We assessed clinical outcome and incidence of symptomatic intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) in 400 consecutive patients treated with intravenous rtPA. Patients eligible for thrombolysis within 3 h were selected by CT or MRI and beyond 3 h only by MRI. 18 patients were excluded from analysis because of violation of that algorithm. The remaining 382 patients were divided into three groups: CT-based treatment within 3 h (n=209); MRI-based treatment within 3 h (n=103); and MRI-based treatment beyond 3 h (n=70). Patients in group 3 (MRI > 3 h) had a similar 90 day outcome to those in the other two groups (48% were independent in the CT < or = 3 h group, 51% in the MRI < or = 3 h group, and 56% in group 3), but without an increased risk for symptomatic ICH (9%, 1%, 6%) or mortality (21%, 13%, 11%). MRI-selected patients overall had a significantly lower risk than CT-selected patients for symptomatic ICH (3% vs 9%; p=0.013) and mortality (12% vs 21%; p=0.021). Time to treatment did not affect outcomes in univariate and multivariate analyses. Our data suggest that beyond 3 h and maybe even within 3 h, patient selection is more important than time to treatment for a good outcome. Furthermore, MRI-based thrombolysis, irrespective of the time window, shows an improved safety profile while being at least as effective as standard CT-based treatment within 3 h.
  The Lancet Neurology 08/2006; 5(8):661-7. · 23.46 Impact Factor