Examining the Difference between Migraine and Intracranial Arterial Stenosis Based on the Transcranial Doppler Findings

Background: Despite numerous reports indicating ethnic difference in intracranial arterial stenosis (ICAS) between Caucasians and Asians, there has been no direct comparison in disease burden and clinical correlates of ICAS in stroke patients in the two populations with the same criteria to define ICAS. Methods: Acute minor stroke or transient ischemic attack patients who received cerebral MR/CT angiography exam in two cohorts were analyzed: Oxford Vascular Study (OXVASC, 2011-2018) with predominantly Caucasians, and the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) stroke registry (2011-2015) with predominantly Chinese. ICAS was defined as ≥50% stenosis in any major intracranial artery in MR/CT angiography. Interobserver agreement between 2 investigators for presence of ICAS was assessed in 50 cases with Cohen’s kappa. We compared the burden and risk factors of ICAS in the two cohorts. Results: Overall, 1,287 patients from OXVASC (mean age 69 years) and 640 from the CUHK cohort (mean age 66 years) were analyzed. Interobserver agreement for presence of ICAS was good (kappa=0.82). Prevalence of ICAS was significantly higher in Chinese than in Caucasians: 43.6% in the CUHK cohort versus 20.0% in OXVASC (crude OR 3.10; age-adjusted OR 3.81, 95% CI 3.06-4.75; p<0.001). Mean ages of patients with ICAS in the two cohorts were 75 and 68 years, respectively. The difference between Caucasians and Chinese in ICAS prevalence was smaller in those aged ≥70 years (28.1% versus 51.9%) than those <70 years (9.8% versus 38.0%) (Figure). ICAS shared similar risk factors in the two cohorts, including older age, and history of hypertension and diabetes. Conclusions: Chinese are more susceptible to ICAS, with an earlier onset age than Caucasians, but the ICAS burden in Caucasians was higher than previously estimated, especially in older patients.

Download Full-text

Transcranial duplex ultrasound monitoring of intracranial arterial stenosis treated with ELUTAX “3” drug-eluting balloon

Interventional Neuroradiology ◽

10.1177/1591019920929812 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 26 (6) ◽

pp. 800-804

Author(s):

Elena Elvira Soler ◽

Blanca Serrano Serrano ◽

Nicolás López Hernández ◽

Natasha Guevara Dalrymple ◽

Sarai Moliner Castellano ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Middle Cerebral Artery ◽

Cerebral Artery ◽

Transcranial Doppler ◽

Arterial Stenosis ◽

Transcranial Ultrasound ◽

Mean Flow ◽

Intracranial Arterial Stenosis ◽

Ultrasound Monitoring ◽

Drug Eluting ◽

Drug Eluting Balloon

We report the results of transcranial ultrasound monitoring in three patients with intracranial arterial stenosis of the middle cerebral artery treated with the only drug-eluting balloon certificated for intracranial use in highly symptomatic intracranial arterial stenosis, ELUTAX “3” (AR Baltic Medical). We performed transcranial Doppler ultrasounds 24 h, 72 h, 10 days, 15 days and 30 days after the angioplasty, thereby measuring mean flow velocity (MFV) in the maximum stenosis area in patients with symptomatic steno-occlusive disease of the middle cerebral artery treated with ELUTAX “3”. Two patients were treated during mechanical thrombectomy (MT) due to acute ischemic stroke and one patient was treated on elective basis due to symptomatic pre-occlusive stenosis, with recurrent transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) refractory to medical therapy. In Case 1, the first transcranial Doppler ultrasounds evidenced MFV of 348 cm/s, with progressive MFV reduction until 15 days post-treatment, with MFV of 177 cm/s. In Case 2, 24 h after angioplasty had an MFV of 258 cm/s, decreasing to 103 cm/s at 30 days. Case 3 had an MFV of 436 cm/s before angioplasty that immediately decreased after the procedure to 364 cm/s, with a final MFV of 260 cm/s at 30 days. We have recorded a progressive MFV reduction in intracranial arterial stenosis, with better outcomes in patients treated during MT. In our experience, the use of ELUTAX “3” for the treatment of symptomatic intracranial arterial stenosis achieves a progressive improvement of stenosis, evident in the first weeks, to a higher extent in cases of occlusive thrombosis. More studies are needed to provide more information about this device.

Download Full-text

Abstract 176: The Feasibility of Intravenous Flat-Detector CT (IV FDCT) Angiography for Intracranial Arterial Stenosis

Stroke ◽

10.1161/str.44.suppl_1.a176 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 44 (suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Seung Sheen ◽

Jin Sue Jeon ◽

Jeong Eun Kim ◽

Jae Seung Bang ◽

Young-Je Son

Keyword(s):

Arterial Stenosis ◽

Rank Test ◽

Digital Subtraction ◽

Intracranial Arterial Stenosis ◽

Severe Stenosis ◽

Flat Detector ◽

Feasible Alternative ◽

Intracranial Arteries ◽

The Difference ◽

Ischemic Attack

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Intravenous flat-detector CT (IV FDCT) angiography is an emerging technology for the detection of intracranial vascular disease. The study was conducted to determine the feasibility of IV FDCT in estimating major atherosclerotic intracranial arteries stenosis with digital subtraction angiography (DSA) as the reference. METHODS: DSA and IV FDCT were performed simultaneously in patients with transient ischemic attack or acute cerebral infarction. The degree and length of stenosis were measured. The stenotic vessels were categorized into four groups by the grade of stenosis: normal (<30%), mild (30-49%), moderate (50-69%) or severe (>70%). The vessels of the normal group were excluded from analysis to reduce spectrum bias. Measurement of vessels was recorded using an electric ruler by a qualified endovascular neurosurgeon and a neuroradiologist. RESULTS: A total of sixty-nine patients with 842 vessel segments were calculated. Mild (n=56), moderate (n=47) and severe stenosis (n=46) groups were analyzed. IV FDCT had a sensitivity of 97.6%, specificity of 96.9%, and a negative predictive value of 96.9% for detecting ≥50% stenosis and respective values of 91.9%, 98.2%, and 97.4 % for depicting ≥70% stenosis. The difference of stenotic length between two tests was not significantly difference as an increase in the severity of stenosis (Spearman’s rank test; r = - 0.12, p=0.13) CONCLUSION: IV FDCT can be a feasible alternative as a noninvasive method for evaluating stenosis of the major intracranial arteries.

Download Full-text