Short- and long-term outcomes of mechanical thrombectomy in acute ischemic stroke patients with chronic kidney disease

Abstract

Introduction: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a risk factor of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Outcomes of treatment with mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in patients with CKD seem to be poorer than in the general population. Long-term follow-up studies are lacking.

Objectives: Assessing short- and long-term outcomes (up to 365 days after stroke) in MT-treated AIS patients with concomitant CKD.

Patients and methods: The study included all AIS patients treated with MT in a Comprehensive Stroke Center from 2019 to 2021. The subjects were divided into CKD group (best glomerular filtration rate during hospitalization <60 ml/min/1.73 m² or CKD diagnosed in patient’s medical history) and controls. In-hospital, 90-day and 365-day mortality and rate of good functional outcomes (defined as modified Rankin Scale ≤2) were compared between CKD patients and controls as well as between patients with CKD stages 1-3 (GFR ≥30ml/min/1.73m²) and 4-5 (GFR <30ml/min/1.73m²). Factors associated with abovementioned outcomes were identified using univariable logistic regression analyses and then added to multivariable analyses.

Results: CKD patients had higher 90- and 365-day mortality and lower 90- and 365-day good functional outcome rates than controls. Patients with CKD stage 4-5 had significantly higher in-hospital, 90-day and 365-day mortality than patients with CKD stage 1-3. Neither CKD nor its late stages (4-5) were independently associated with short- and long-term mortality and functional outcomes of MT.

Conclusions: Outcomes of MT-treatment in CKD patients are worse, especially in advanced stages of the disease, but CKD is not independently associated with bad prognosis. CKD alone should not be a contraindication for MT in otherwise eligible patients, although patients with impaired kidney function require more careful postprocedural monitoring.