scholarly journals Plaque morphology in acute symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic disease

2020 ◽  
pp. jnnp-2020-325027
Author(s):  
Thomas W Leung ◽  
Li Wang ◽  
Xinying Zou ◽  
Yannie Soo ◽  
Yuehua Pu ◽  
...  

BackgroundIntracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD) is globally a major ischaemic stroke subtype with high recurrence. Understanding the morphology of symptomatic ICAD plaques, largely unknown by far, may help identify vulnerable lesions prone to relapse.MethodsWe prospectively recruited patients with acute ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack attributed to high-grade ICAD (60%–99% stenosis). Plaque morphological parameters were assessed in three-dimensional rotational angiography, including surface contour, luminal stenosis, plaque length/thickness, upstream shoulder angulation, axial/longitudinal plaque distribution and presence of adjoining branch atheromatous disease (BAD). We compared morphological features of smooth, irregular and ulcerative plaques and correlated them with cerebral ischaemic lesion load downstream in MRI.ResultsAmong 180 recruited patients (median age=60 years; 63.3% male; median stenosis=75%), plaque contour was smooth (51 (28.3%)), irregular (101 (56.1%)) or ulcerative (28 (15.6%)). Surface ulcers were mostly at proximal (46.4%) and middle one-third (35.7%) of the lesions. Most (84.4%) plaques were eccentric, and half had their maximum thickness over the distal end. Ulcerative lesions were thicker (medians 1.6 vs 1.3 mm; p=0.003), had steeper upstream shoulder angulation (56.2° vs 31.0°; p<0.001) and more adjoining BAD (83.3% vs 57.0%; p=0.033) than non-ulcerative plaques. Ulcerative plaques were significantly associated with coexisting acute and chronic infarcts downstream (35.7% vs 12.5%; adjusted OR 4.29, 95% CI 1.65 to 11.14, p=0.003). Sensitivity analyses in patients with anterior-circulation ICAD lesions showed similar results in the associations between the plaque types and infarct load.ConclusionsUlcerative intracranial atherosclerotic plaques were associated with vulnerable morphological features and had a higher cumulative infarct load downstream.

Stroke ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 46 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rajbeer S Sangha ◽  
Carlos Corado ◽  
Richard A Bernstein ◽  
Ilana Ruff ◽  
Yvonne Curran ◽  
...  

Background: Since the SAMMPRIS trial, aggressive medical management (AMM) with the use of dual antiplatelets (aspirin, clopidogrel) and high dose statin therapy has been standard of care for patients with symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD). However, there is limited data on the “real-world” application of this regimen. We hypothesized that 30-day recurrent stroke risk among patients treated with AMM would be similar to that in SAMMPRIS medically-treated patients. Methods: Using the prospective Northwestern University Brain Attack Registry, we identified all patients admitted between 8/1/12 and 1/31/14 with 1) confirmed ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA); 2) independently adjudicated symptomatic ICAD; and 3) discharged on AMM. At 30 days (28-35 day window) post-stroke, patients or proxies were contacted by telephone to review events and outcomes. We also utilized an electronic surveillance system of hospital records at any of 3 health system hospitals with confirmation by manual review of the medical record in all instances of reported recurrent stroke or TIA. Ischemic stroke in the territory of the symptomatic stenotic artery was the primary outcome. We calculated 30-day rate of stroke in the territory of the stenotic artery and 95% confidence intervals using the Wald method and compared it with that reported in the SAMMPRIS trial. Results: Among 36 patients who met study criteria, 13 (36.1%) were female and mean age was 65.4 (± 9.7) years. Median initial NIHSS score was 4 (interquartile range 0-17). Symptomatic ICAD was localized to the anterior circulation in 21 (58%) patients and posterior circulation in 15 (41.7%). At 30 days, 3 of the 36 patients (8.3%, 95% CI 2.1-22.6%) had recurrent stroke compared to 5.8% in the medical arm of SAMMPRIS (p=0.47). An additional 3 patients (8.3%) experienced TIA within 30 days. Conclusions: In a single-center observational cohort study, we found that AMM in patients with symptomatic ICAD yielded similar rates of recurrent stroke at 30-days as observed in the SAMMPRIS trial. Our study provides “real-world” confirmation of the potential benefits of AMM in this high-risk stroke subtype.


2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 80-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
Osian Llwyd ◽  
Angela S.M. Salinet ◽  
Ronney B. Panerai ◽  
Man Y. Lam ◽  
Nazia P. Saeed ◽  
...  

Background: Acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) patients often show impaired cerebral autoregulation (CA). We tested the hypothesis that CA impairment and other alterations in cerebral haemodynamics are associated with stroke subtype and severity. Methods: AIS patients (n = 143) were amalgamated from similar studies. Data from baseline (< 48 h stroke onset) physiological recordings (beat-to-beat blood pressure [BP], cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV) from bilateral insonation of the middle cerebral arteries) were calculated for mean values and autoregulation index (ARI). Differences were assessed between stroke subtype (Oxfordshire Community Stroke Project [OCSP] classification) and severity (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale [NIHSS] score < 5 and 5–25). Correlation coefficients assessed associations between NIHSS and physiological measurements. Results: Thirty-two percent of AIS patients had impaired CA (ARI < 4) in affected hemisphere (AH) that was similar between stroke subtypes and severity. CBFV in AH was comparable between stroke subtype and severity. In unaffected hemisphere (UH), differences existed in mean CBFV between lacunar and total anterior circulation OCSP subtypes (42 vs. 56 cm•s–1, p < 0.01), and mild and moderate-to-severe stroke severity (45 vs. 51 cm•s–1, p = 0.04). NIHSS was associated with peripheral (diastolic and mean arterial BP) and cerebral haemodynamic parameters (CBFV and ARI) in the UH. Conclusions: AIS patients with different OCSP subtypes and severity have homogeneity in CA capability. Cerebral haemodynamic measurements in the UH were distinguishable between stroke subtype and severity, including the association between deteriorating ARI in UH with stroke severity. More studies are needed to determine their clinical significance and to understand the determinants of CA impairment in AIS patients.


Stroke ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 51 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander McQuinn ◽  
Andrew Cheung ◽  
Jason Wenderoth ◽  
Amer Mitchelle ◽  
Christopher Blair ◽  
...  

Introduction: Recent data suggests stenting of symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD) in the hyper-acute period (< 8 days of symptom onset) is associated with a high incidence of early postoperative morbidity and mortality. We assessed the efficacy and safety of this select group of patients at our institutions. Methods: Between December 2017 to May 2019, anterior circulation stroke patients who underwent acute stenting of symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic disease with the Atlas stent (Stryker) were identified from a prospectively maintained database of stroke patients at two comprehensive stroke centres. Baseline characteristics, imaging, and clinical outcomes are reported. Results: Nine cases were identified (mean age 71years, 44.4% male, median NIHSS 9 (range 5-18)). All patients had baseline mRS of 3 or less. Median time from symptom onset to groin puncture was 10hours (range 4-96hours). All patients received dual-antiplatelet therapy with Aspirin and Prasugrel(DAPT) either immediately before or after the procedure. In patients who did not receive pre-procedure loading with DAPT (55.6%), a single intravenous dose of Abciximab (mean 9mg +/- 4mg) or Tirofiban (1mg) was given intra-operatively. No thromboembolic complications or mortality occurred in the early postoperative period (within 72hours). All patients showed improvement in target vessel perfusion on day-one CT-perfusion. At 90-days, 7 (77.8%) patients were either functionally independent (mRS 0-2) or at their pre-operative baseline. No symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage occurred. No recurrent target vessel strokes were recorded. One patient died of medical complications unrelated to intracranial stenting and one patient was mRS 3 at 90-days. Conclusion: Hyper-acute stenting of symptomatic ICAD may be safe and effective. Antiplatelet treatment strategies and advances in stent devices may be critical in the success of this approach.


2019 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 175628641983329 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fang Wu ◽  
Qian Zhang ◽  
Kai Dong ◽  
Jiangang Duan ◽  
Xiaoxu Yang ◽  
...  

Background: Large-vessel atherosclerotic disease is an important pathogenesis of deep-perforator infarction (DPI). However, altered vessel walls of intracranial large arteries and distribution of small arteries in DPI are unclear because of the limited resolution of current imaging techniques. In this study the intracranial plaque burden and lenticulostriate artery (LSA) distribution in patients with recent DPI and non-DPI using whole-brain vessel-wall imaging (WB-VWI) were investigated. Methods: A total of 44 patients with recent DPI (23 patients) or non-DPI (21 patients) due to intracranial atherosclerotic disease were prospectively enrolled. WB-VWI was performed in all the patients using a three-dimensional T1-weighted vessel-wall magnetic resonance technique. Hemispheres with DPI and non-DPI were considered as the DPI group and non-DPI group, respectively. Hemispheres without a history of stroke were the control group. The intracranial plaque burden was compared between the DPI and non-DPI groups. The number and length of visualized LSA branches among DPI, non-DPI, and control groups were also evaluated. Results: A total of 77 hemispheres were analyzed (23 in the DPI group, 21 in the non-DPI group, and 33 in the control group). Plaque burden was lower ( p = 0.047) in the DPI group (82.0 ± 45.9 mm3) compared with the non-DPI group (130.9 ± 90.3 mm3). There was a significant reduction ( p = 0.002) in length of visualized LSA branches in the DPI group (74.1 ± 21.7 mm) compared with the control group (104.6 ± 33.3 mm). Conclusions: WB-VWI enables the combination of vessel-wall and LSA imaging in one image setting, which can provide information about plaque burden and LSA distribution.


2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. 689-698 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pengfei Yang ◽  
Kilian M Treurniet ◽  
Lei Zhang ◽  
Yongwei Zhang ◽  
Zifu Li ◽  
...  

Rationale Intravenous thrombolysis combined with mechanical thrombectomy (MT) has been proven safe and clinical effective in patients with acute ischemic stroke of anterior circulation large vessel occlusion. However, despite reperfusion, a considerable proportion of patients do not recover. Incidence of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage was similar between patients treated with the combination of intravenous thrombolysis and MT, as compared to intravenous thrombolysis alone, suggesting that this complication should be attributed to pre-treatment with intravenous thrombolysis. Conversely, intravenous thrombolysis may be beneficial in patients with small clots occluding intracranial arteries with underlying intracranial atherosclerotic disease, not accessible for MT. Aim To assess whether direct MT is non-inferior compared to combined intravenous thrombolysis plus MT in patients with AIS due to an anterior circulation large vessel occlusion, and to assess treatment effect modification by presence of intracranial atherosclerotic disease. Sample size Aim to randomize 636 patients 1:1 to receive direct MT (intervention) or combined intravenous thrombolysis plus MT (control). Design This is a multicenter, prospective, open label parallel group trial with blinded outcome assessment (PROBE design) assessing non-inferiority of direct MT compared to combined intravenous thrombolysis plus MT. Outcomes The primary outcome is the score on the modified Rankin Scale assessed blindly at 90 (±14) days. An common odds ratio, adjusted for the prognostic factors (age, NIHSS, collateral score), representing the shift on the 6-category mRS scale measured at three months, estimated with ordinal logistic regression, will be the primary effect parameter. Non-inferiority is established if the lower boundary of the 95% confidence interval does not cross 0.8. Discussion DIRECT-MT could result in improved therapeutic efficiency and cost reduction in treatment of anterior circulation large vessel occlusion stroke.


Neurosurgery ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 61 (4) ◽  
pp. 842-852 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clemens M. Schirmer ◽  
Adel M. Malek

Abstract OBJECTIVE Although carotid and vertebral intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD) can lead to both hemodynamic insufficiency and thromboembolism, its fluid dynamic properties remain undefined because of its intricate features and complex three-dimensional geometry. We used computational fluid dynamic (CFD) analysis to model the hemodynamics of symptomatic ICAD lesions. METHODS Nine ICAD lesions (six carotid, two vertebral, one middle cerebral) underwent high-resolution catheter-based digital rotational angiography. The reconstructed three-dimensional volumes of the target lesions were segmented and used to generate hybrid computational meshes. Dynamic pulsatile CFD analysis was performed using a non-Newtonian shear-dependent model of blood's viscosity. RESULTS CFD results revealed complex flow patterns within ICAD lesions with midstenotic shear rates of greater than 19,000/s, sufficiently high to induce high-shear platelet activation. Vorticity and helicity within the stenoses were followed by sudden deceleration with formation of vortex cores. Pressure gradients were significant mostly at greater than 75% stenosis with a mean time-averaged drop of 27.2 ±17.8 mmHg. Unlike the smoothly-varying helicity imparted by the three-dimensional anatomy of the intracranial circulation, poststenotic regions of ICAD lesions showed significant and rapidly fluctuating helicity and vorticity patterns, which may contribute to the propagation of platelets activated by the high shear region within the stenosis throat. Stent angioplasty restored the hemodynamic profile of ICAD lesions to within contralateral controls. CONCLUSION Patient-based symptomatic ICAD lesions studied using CFD analysis appear to harbor a hemodynamically pathological environment that favors the activation, aggregation and distal embolization of platelets and is reversed by endovascular stent angioplasty.


2021 ◽  
pp. neurintsurg-2021-017818
Author(s):  
Mahmoud H Mohammaden ◽  
Raul G Nogueira ◽  
Wondwossen Tekle ◽  
Santiago Ortega-Gutierrez ◽  
Mudassir Farooqui ◽  
...  

BackgroundRandomized clinical trials have failed to prove that the safety and efficacy of endovascular treatment for symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD) is better than that of medical management. A recent study using a self-expandable stent showed acceptable lower rates of periprocedural complications.ObjectiveTo study the safety and efficacy of a balloon-mounted stent (BMS) in the treatment of symptomatic ICAD.MethodsProspectively maintained databases from 15 neuroendovascular centers between 2010 and 2020 were reviewed. Patients were included if they had severe symptomatic intracranial stenosis in the target artery, medical management had failed, and they underwent intracranial stenting with BMS after 24 hours of the qualifying event. The primary outcome was the occurrence of stroke and mortality within 72 hours after the procedure. Secondary outcomes were the occurrence of stroke, transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), and mortality on long-term follow-up.ResultsA total of 232 patients were eligible for the analysis (mean age 62.8 years, 34.1% female). The intracranial stenotic lesions were located in the anterior circulation in 135 (58.2%) cases. Recurrent stroke was the qualifying event in 165 (71.1%) while recurrent TIA was identified in 67 (28.9%) cases. The median (IQR) time from the qualifying event to stenting was 5 (2–20.75) days. Strokes were reported in 13 (5.6%) patients within 72 hours of the procedure; 9 (3.9%) ischemic and 4 (1.7%) hemorrhagic, and mortality in 2 (0.9%) cases. Among 189 patients with median follow-up time 6 (3–14.5) months, 12 (6.3%) had TIA and 7 (3.7%) had strokes. Three patients (1.6%) died from causes not related to stroke.ConclusionOur study has shown that BMS may be a safe and effective treatment for medically refractory symptomatic ICAD. Additional prospective randomized clinical trials are warranted.


Stroke ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 52 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xinyi Leng ◽  
Xueyan Feng ◽  
Ka Lung Chan ◽  
Hui Fang ◽  
Linfang Lan ◽  
...  

Background: Artery-to-artery embolism (AAE) is a common stroke mechanism in patients with symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD), which might be associated with a higher risk of recurrent stroke than other stroke mechanisms. We aimed to investigate cerebral hemodynamic features associated with AAE in symptomatic ICAD patients. Methods: Patients with acute, anterior-circulation ischemic stroke attributed to ICAD (50-99% stenosis) confirmed in CT angiography (CTA) were recruited from two teaching hospitals. We classified probable stroke mechanisms as isolated parent artery atherosclerosis occluding penetrating artery (PAO), AAE, hypoperfusion, and mixed mechanisms, based on infarct topography in MRI and ICAD lesion features. CTA-based computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models were built to simulate blood flow across culprit ICAD lesions. Translesional pressure ratio (PR=Pressure post-stenotic /Pressure pre-stenotic ) and translesional wall shear stress ratio (WSSR=WSS stenotic-throat /WSS pre-stenotic ) were calculated, to reflect the relative change of the two hemodynamic metrics across an ICAD lesion. PR ≤ median was defined as low PR, indicating a larger pressure gradient across the lesion; and WSSR ≥ 4 th quartile as high WSSR, indicating elevated WSS upon the lesion. We associated PR and WSSR with presence of AAE as a probable stroke mechanism. Results: Among 99 symptomatic ICAD patients, 44 had AAE as a probable stroke mechanism, 13 with AAE alone and 31 with coexisting hypoperfusion; the remaining patients respectively had isolated PAO (n=18) and isolated hypoperfusion (n=37) as the probable stroke mechanisms. High WSSR was independently associated with AAE (adjusted OR 4.21; 95% CI 1.33-13.26; p=0.014). The significant, positive relationship between high WSSR and higher risk of AAE remained in those with a low PR (adjusted OR 4.01; 95% CI 1.03-15.46; p=0.044), but not in those with a normal PR (p=0.621). Conclusions: High WSS upon ICAD lesions may increase plaque vulnerability and lead to distal embolism, while sustained antegrade flow across the ICAD lesion (normal PR) may help clear the emboli. In secondary prevention of symptomatic ICAD with AAE, impaired cerebral perfusion may be a therapeutic target.


BMJ Open ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. e018951 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuesong Pan ◽  
Xueli Cai ◽  
Xiaochuan Huo ◽  
Xingquan Zhao ◽  
Liping Liu ◽  
...  

ObjectivesEndovascular mechanical thrombectomy is an effective but expensive therapy for acute ischaemic stroke with proximal anterior circulation occlusion. This study aimed to determine the cost-effectiveness of mechanical thrombectomy in China, which is the largest developing country.DesignA combination of decision tree and Markov model was developed. Outcome and cost data were derived from the published literature and claims database. The efficacy data were derived from the meta-analyses of nine trials. One-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed in order to assess the uncertainty of the results.SettingHospitals in China.ParticipantsThe patients with acute ischaemic stroke caused by proximal anterior circulation occlusion within 6 hours.InterventionsMechanical thrombectomy within 6 hours with intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) treatment within 4.5 hours versus intravenous tPA treatment alone.Outcome measuresThe benefit conferred by the treatment was assessed by estimating the cost per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) gained in the long term (30 years).ResultsThe addition of mechanical thrombectomy to intravenous tPA treatment compared with standard treatment alone yielded a lifetime gain of 0.794 QALYs at an additional cost of CNY 50 000 (US$7700), resulting in a cost of CNY 63 010 (US$9690) per QALY gained. The probabilistic sensitivity analysis indicated that mechanical thrombectomy was cost-effective in 99.9% of the simulation runs at a willingness-to-pay threshold of CNY 125 700 (US$19 300) per QALY.ConclusionsMechanical thrombectomy for acute ischaemic stroke caused by proximal anterior circulation occlusion within 6 hours was cost-effective in China. The data may be used as a reference with regard to medical resources allocation for stroke treatment in low-income and middle-income countries as well as in the remote areas in the developed countries.


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