Noncontrast Computed Tomography Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score May Modify Intra-Arterial Treatment Effect in DAWN

Abstract

Background and Purpose— It is unknown whether noncontrast computed tomography (NCCT) can identify patients who will benefit from intra-arterial treatment (IAT) in the extended time window. We sought to characterize baseline Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) in DAWN (DWI or CTP Assessment With Clinical Mismatch in the Triage of Wake-Up and Late Presenting Strokes Undergoing Neurointervention With Trevo) and to assess whether ASPECTS modified IAT effect. Methods— Core lab adjudicated ASPECTS scores were analyzed. The trial cohort was divided into 2 groups by qualifying imaging (computed tomography versus magnetic resonance imaging). ASPECTS-by-treatment interaction was tested for the trial coprimary end points (90-day utility-weighted modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score and mRS, 0–2), mRS 0 to 3, and ordinal mRS. ASPECTS was evaluated separately as an ordinal and a dichotomized (0–6 versus 7–10) variable. Results— Of 205 DAWN subjects, 123 (60%) had NCCT ASPECTS, and 82 (40%) had diffusion weighted imaging ASPECTS. There was a significant ordinal NCCT ASPECTS-by-treatment interaction for 90-day utility-weighted mRS (interaction P =0.04) and mRS 0 to 2 (interaction P =0.02). For both end points, IAT effect was more pronounced at higher NCCT ASPECTS. The dichotomized NCCT ASPECTS-by-treatment interaction was significant only for mRS 0 to 2 (interaction P =0.04), where greater treatment benefit was seen in the ASPECTS 7 to 10 group (odds ratio, 7.50 [2.71–20.77] versus odds ratio, 0.48 [0.04–5.40]). A bidirectional treatment effect was observed in the NCCT ASPECTS 0 to 6 group, with treatment associated with not only more mRS 0 to 3 outcomes (50% versus 25%) but also more mRS 5 to 6 outcomes (40% versus 25%). There was no significant modification of IAT effect by diffusion weighted imaging ASPECTS. Conclusions— Baseline NCCT ASPECTS appears to modify IAT effect in DAWN. Higher NCCT ASPECTS was associated with greater benefit from IAT. No treatment interaction was observed for diffusion weighted imaging ASPECTS.