Screening tool for extracranial carotid lesions detection in patients of outpatient vascular clinic

2019 ◽  
Vol 91 (5) ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Piotr Każmierski ◽  
Michał Pająk ◽  
Justyna Kruś-Hadała ◽  
Mateusz Jęckowski ◽  
Katarzyna Bogusiak

Purpose The objective of the study was to evaluate the frequency and severity of atherosclerotic lesions in extracranial sections of carotid arteries and to determine the level of the correlation between these lesions and symptoms of cerebral ischemia. Secondly, to identify the most common risk factors of ischaemic stroke occurrence in population of patients of vascular outpatient clinic. Material and Methods Prospective study was conducted on a group of 1,000 people (217 women and 783 men), aged 50 to 86 years, the average age was 62 years (± 9.95). Results Atherosclerotic lesions of carotid arteries were observed in 670 examined people (67%). In 63 cases (6.3%) carotid artery occlusion was revealed. Patients with symptomatic carotid artery stenosis more frequently were addicted to cigarettes and suffered from hypertension in comparison to asymptomatic group. A statistically significant correlation between the TIA or ischemic stroke and smoking were noticed, as well as between TIA/ischemic stroke and hypertension Conclusions Among patients with atherosclerosis of peripheral arteries atherosclerotic lesions in the extracranial carotid sections occur with a high frequency. Statistically significant differences in the incidence and severity of atherosclerotic lesions in the carotid arteries were observed in this group. A statistically significant correlation was revealed between the prevalence and severity of atherosclerosis in the carotid arteries in symptomatic patients and smoking and hypertension. Performing screening in patients with atherosclerosis of the abdominal aorta and/or lower limb arteries may detect significant carotid artery stenosis, requiring surgical intervention.

2013 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 88-95
Author(s):  
Dewan Md Elyas ◽  
Aminur Rahman ◽  
Quazi Deen Mohammad ◽  
Badrul Alam Mondol ◽  
Sakhawat Hossain ◽  
...  

Background: Stroke is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity in both developed as well as developing countries The risk factors in lacunar stroke differ in comparison to nonlacunar strokes. In this study risk factors of lacunar stroke in comparison to non-lacunar were evaluated. Objectives: The aim of the study was to compare the risk factors among lacunar stroke and non-lacunar stroke. Methodology: This comparative study conducted in the department of Medicine and Neurology, Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Dhaka from September 2010 to August 2011. MRI of brain was done in 151 patients above 18 years of age with ischemic stroke and Lacunar stroke was found in 31 patients and non-lacunar stroke was detected in 120 patients. Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria from them 30 patients with lacunar stroke were selected as Group-A patients and equal number of non-lacunar stroke same ages as group B were compared of. The risk factors of stroke were defined as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, smoking, history of transient ischemic attack, myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation and carotid artery stenosis. Results: Out of 151 patients with ischemic stroke non-lacunar stroke was predominant, which was 79.47% and lacunar stroke was 20.52%. The mean age was found 60.9±10.2 years in Group A and 56.2±11.8 years in Group B, which was almost similar between two groups (p>0.05). Male were predominant, which was 63.33% and 76.67% in lacunar and non-lacunar stroke respectively. Male and female ratio was 2.3:1. Regarding the risk factors hypertension was observed most common risk factor among the patients having lacunar and non-lacunar strokes. Hypertension and diabetes mellitus were common in lacunar stroke and myocardial infarction, carotid artery stenosis and hypercholesterolemia were common in non-lacunar stroke which were statistically significant (p<0.05) between the both groups. However, the percentage of smoking, previous TIA and atrial fibrillation were not significantly (p>0.05) different between lacunar and non-lacunar stroke. Conclusion: Hypertension and diabetes mellitus were common in lacunar stroke, and myocardial infarction, whereas carotid artery stenosis and hypercholesterolemia were common in non-lacunar stroke and the both groups were statistically significant (p<0.05) . So modification of risk factors may reduce the incidence of ischemic stroke. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjn.v28i2.17176 Bangladesh Journal of Neuroscience 2012; Vol. 28 (2): 88-95


Stroke ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 43 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xihai Zhao ◽  
Huilin Zhao ◽  
Feiyu Li ◽  
Jie Sun ◽  
Ye Cao ◽  
...  

Introduction Rupture of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques in the intracranial and extracranial carotid arteries could trigger ischemic stroke. However, the incidence of high risk atherosclerotic lesions in these vascular beds is not well known. This study sought to investigate the incidence of high risk atherosclerotic lesions in intracranial and extracranial carotid arteries in stroke patients using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Methods Seventy-five patients (mean age 62.7 years, 56 males) with acute ischemic stroke underwent MR imaging for index carotid arteries, assigned as the same side as the brain lesions, with a Philips 3.0T MR scanner. Intracranial carotid MR angiography was performed using 3D TOF sequence with FOV of 23 × 23 cm 2 , matrix of 256 × 256, and a slice thickness of 1mm. The multi-contrast vessel wall images (3D TOF, T1W, T2W, and MP-RAGE) were acquired for extracranial carotid arteries with FOV of 14 × 14 cm 2 , matrix of 256 × 256, and slice thickness of 2 mm. The intracranial artery includes middle cerebral artery (MCA), anterior cerebral artery (ACA), and posterior cerebral artery (PCA). The extracranial carotid artery was divided into internal carotid artery (ICA), bulb, and common carotid artery (CCA). Luminal stenosis for each intracranial and extracranial carotid segment was measured and graded (normal or mild = 0-29%, moderate =30-69%, severe=70-99%). Normalized wall index (NWI = wall area/total vessel area × 100%), and presence/absence of calcification, lipid-rich necrotic core (LRNC), and intraplaque hemorrhage (IPH) and/or fibrous cap rupture in each extracranial carotid segment were determined. Results MCAs developed more severe stenotic lesions (24.6%), followed by extracranial carotids (16.5%), PCAs (5.4%), and ACAs (4.1%) in stroke patients ( Figure 1 A). For extracranial carotid arteries, ICAs showed the largest plaque burden as measured by NWI (44.3%±13.1%), followed by bulbs (39.4%±13%), and CCAs (37%±6.8%). Compared to CCAs, ICAs and bulb regions had more LRNCs (38.4% and 49.3% for ICA and bulb respectively) and IPH and/or rupture (11% and 9.6% for ICA and bulb respectively) ( Figure 1 B). Conclusions In patients with acute ischemic stroke, high risk atherosclerotic plaques can be found in both intracranial and extracranial carotid arteries, particularly in the MCA, ICA and bulb regions. Compared to extracranial carotid arteries, intracranial arteries develop more high risk lesions. The findings of this study suggest the necessity for early screening to detect high risk atherosclerotic lesions in these carotid vascular beds prior to cerebravascular events.


2010 ◽  
Vol 211 (1) ◽  
pp. 231-236 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sander I. van Leuven ◽  
Diederik F. van Wijk ◽  
Oscar L. Volger ◽  
Jean-Paul P.M. de Vries ◽  
Chris M. van der Loos ◽  
...  

Stroke ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 48 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kiyofumi Yamada ◽  
Masanori Kawasaki ◽  
Shigehiro Nakahara ◽  
Yoshikazu Sato ◽  
Kazutaka Uchida ◽  
...  

Background: Carotid artery stenosis is one of the major causes of ischemic strokes. However, degree of stenosis is not always correlated with frequency of ischemic strokes. Recently, it was reported that carotid intraplaque hemorrhage (IPH) was associated with accelerated plaque growth, luminal narrowing and development of symptomatic events. Maximum intensity projection (MIP) images are easily reformatted within from 5 minute, routine time-of-flight (TOF) sequences. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationships between high intensity signal (HIS) in the carotid plaques on MIP images detected by routine three-dimensional TOF magnetic resonance angiography (3D-TOF MRA) and ischemic strokes. Materials and Methods: One hundred fifty two patients with low-grade carotid artery stenosis (North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial criteria: 30% - 49%) were included. IPH was defined as the presence of HIS in the carotid plaques on MIP images of 3D-TOF MRA using the previously reported criteria. We analyzed the relationship between the presence of HIS in the plaques and prior ischemic strokes defined as ischemic lesions on diffusion weighed images of the brain. Results: HIS in the carotid plaque was present in 56 (37%) of 152 carotid arteries. Prior ipsilateral ischemic strokes were observed more frequently in HIS-positive group (12 of 56, 21.4%) than HIS-negative group (1 of 34: 2.9%) [p<0.001]. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, HIS (Odds ratio: 77.7, 95%CI: 6.4 - 944.0, p<0.001) and diabetes mellitus type 2 (odds ratio: 10.45, 95%CI: 1.6 - 67.9, p=0.014) were independent determinants of prior ischemic strokes after adjustment for age. Conclusions: HIS in the carotid plaques on MIP images of 3D-TOF MRA was an independent determinant of prior ischemic stroke in patients with low-grade carotid artery stenosis, and this finding may provide a reliable risk stratification of future stroke in patients with low-grade carotid artery stenosis.


Stroke ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 43 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Cheng ◽  
Salomeh Keyhani ◽  
Susan Ofner ◽  
Linda Williams ◽  
Dawn Bravata

Background: Landmark clinical trials have shown that carotid procedures can greatly reduce the risk of stroke in persons with symptomatic carotid artery stenosis between 70 and 99% and can somewhat reduce the risk of stroke in persons with symptomatic carotid stenosis between 50 and 69%. Guidelines have recommended that results from carotid artery imaging tests be presented in these ranges to facilitate decision-making. We sought to determine how carotid imaging results were reported across Veterans Administration (VA) facilities. Methods: Carotid artery imaging results were obtained as part of a comprehensive chart review of veterans hospitalized with ischemic stroke at 127 VA hospitals in fiscal year 2007. Abstractors recorded the results of carotid ultrasound, MR angiography, CT angiography, or catheter angiography performed in the twelve months prior to admission to six months after admission. We excluded carotid artery imaging reports with results of “no stenosis”, “mild stenosis”, exact degree of stenosis <50%, or any range of stenosis <50% to focus on those reports that would likely inform decisions about carotid procedures. The unit of analysis was the carotid artery. We described how often the results were presented as an exact degree (such as 60%), as a range (such as 50 to 69%), or as a descriptive category (“moderate” or “severe” stenosis). For results described as a range, we examined how often it matched those used in landmark trials. Results: Of 6527 results of carotid artery imaging, there were 1315 results of greater than 50% or at least “moderate stenosis” (see Table ). Only 234 of the reports used a range to describe the stenosis; among this set, only 55 of the reports used a 50-69% or 70-99% range to describe the stenosis. Conclusions: In this national healthcare system, significant carotid artery stenosis was rarely reported in a way that exactly mapped onto recommendations from landmark clinical trials and guidelines. Clinicians who order these diagnostic tests as well as clinicians who interpret these diagnostic tests should collaborate to produce standardized reports that facilitate decision-making.


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