Modified ASPECTS for DWI including deep white matter lesions predicts subsequent intracranial hemorrhage

We hypothesized that extensive early ischemic changes increase subsequent intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) in patients within 3 h of onset regardless of intravenous tPA (IV-tPA). We have established a modified scoring method, ASPECTS+W, including deep white matter lesions on DWI (DWI-W) in addition to the original ASPECTS regions. We aimed to elucidate whether CT-ASPECTS, DWI-ASPECTS, and ASPECTS+W could be useful tools in helping to predict subsequent ICH in acute ischemic stroke. One-hundred sixty-four consecutive patients with anterior circulation ischemic stroke were enrolled. All patients underwent both MRI and CT within 3 h of onset. ASPECTS+W was defined as an 11-point method combining the ten ASPECTS regions and DWI-W. The relationships of CT-ASPECTS, DWI-ASPECTS, and ASPECTS+W with ICH within the initial 36 h were assessed. Thirty-six patients (22%) were treated with IV-tPA. Follow-up CT was obtained in 159 patients, and 19 (12%) developed ICH. Patients with ICH had higher baseline NIHSS scores (median, 25 vs. 13, p = 0.010), a higher rate of IV-tPA (42 vs. 20%, p = 0.041), lower CT-ASPECTS (median, 7 vs. 10, p = 0.008), lower DWI-ASPECTS (6 vs. 9, p = 0.001), lower ASPECTS+W (6 vs. 9, p = 0.001), and higher DWI-W lesions (74 vs. 47%, p = 0.048) than those without ICH. ICA or M1 proximal occlusion was more frequently seen in patients with ICH (68 vs. 32%, p = 0.004) than in those without ICH. On multivariate regression analysis, lower ASPECTS+W (OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.58–0.96, p = 0.027) and administration of IV-tPA (OR 9.13, 95% CI 2.15–46.21, p = 0.004) independently predicted ICH development. In conclusion, ASPECTS+W is a useful tool for predicting ICH development independent of IV-tPA.