Extracranial and intracranial arterial stenoocclusive disease in acute ischemic stroke patients: A study from north India - Evaluation with MR angiography

Abstract

Background: Asian, African, and Hispanic ancestry are at higher risk of intracranial atherosclerosis. In North America, extracranial carotid stenosis remains the most common vascular lesion in Caucasian. However the studies in Indian population are lacking. Aims: The study was done to evaluate extracranial and intracranial arterial stenoocclusive diseases in acute ischemic stroke with MR angiography. Material and Methods: This prospective study was conducted on 50 subjects of ischemic stroke. A thorough clinical examination, history of risk factors, routine baseline investigations for stroke, Brain CT/ MRI, and MRA study of extracranial and intracranial vessels (three-dimensional time-of-flight technique) were done in all patients. Results: Twenty two (44%) have abnormal MRA with significant steno-occlusive lesions. The intracranial stenosis was more common than extracranial stenosis in our population and was statistically significant (p value 60 years), ischemic heart disease and male patients. Conclusion: The intracranial stenosis was more common than extracranial stenosis in our studied population. The present study confirms racial difference between Indians and whites in location of lesion in cerebrovascular steno-occlusive. Further large scale population based studies are needed. Keywords: Extracranial Stenosis; Intracranial Stenosis; MR Angiography