Influence of renal impairment on neurologic outcomes following mechanical thrombectomy in acute vertebrobasilar stroke

Purpose Renal impairment (RI) has been regarded as a risk factor for unfavorable neurologic outcomes after mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in acute ischemic stroke. However, most of the previous studies were conducted on patients with anterior circulation stroke. Accordingly, the influence of RI on MT outcomes has not been well elucidated in detail in acute vertebrobasilar stroke. Methods Consecutive stroke patients with MT due to acute vertebrobasilar artery occlusion between March 2015 and December 2020 at four institutions were included. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the associations between RI and outcomes and mortality at 3 months, and the development of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) after the procedure. Additionally, the multivariable Cox proportional hazards model was performed to determine the influence of RI on survival probability after patient discharge. Results A total of 110 patients were included in the final analysis. The presence of RI (OR = 0.268, 95% CI: 0.077–0.935), National Institute of Health Stroke Scale scores (OR = 0.849, 95% CI: 0.791–0.910), and puncture-to-recanalization time (OR = 0.981, 95% CI: 0.966–0.997) were related to outcomes. There was no significant association between RI and 3-month mortality or ICH. The cumulative survival probability after adjusting for relevant risk factors demonstrated that RI remained significantly associated with poorer survival after MT compared to patients without RI (HR = 2.111, 95% CI: 0.919–4.847). Conclusion RI was an independent risk factor for poor 3-month neurologic outcomes and survival probability after MT in patients with acute vertebrobasilar stroke.