Hypoperfusion in lenticulostriate arteries territory related to unexplained early neurological deterioration after intravenous thrombolysis

Background Early neurological deterioration occurs in approximately 10% acute ischemic stroke patients after thrombolysis. Over half of the early neurological deterioration occurred without known causes and is called unexplained early neurological deterioration. Aims We aimed to explore the development of early neurological deterioration at 24 h after thrombolysis, and whether it could be predicted by the presence of baseline hypoperfusion in lenticulostriate arteries territory in acute ischemic stroke patients. Methods We retrospectively reviewed our prospectively collected database of acute ischemic stroke patients in the unilateral middle cerebral artery territory who had baseline perfusion image and received thrombolysis. Unexplained early neurological deterioration was defined as ≥ 2 points increase of National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) from baseline to 24 h, without known causes. Hypoperfusion lesions in different territories were identified on perfusion maps. Results A total of 306 patients were included in analysis. Patients with pure lenticulostriate arteries hypoperfusion (defined as the presence of hypoperfusion in lenticulostriate artery territory, but not in middle cerebral artery terminal branch territory) were more likely to have unexplained early neurological deterioration than others (27.6% vs. 6.1%; OR, 5.974; p = 0.001), after adjusting for age, baseline NIHSS and onset to treatment time. Conclusions Patients presenting hypoperfusion in pure lenticulostriate arteries territory were easier to experience unexplained early neurological deterioration.