Intracranial Stenosis Research Articles

Clopidogrel with indobufen or aspirin in minor ischemic stroke or high-risk transient ischemic attack: a randomized controlled clinical study

BackgroundIschemic stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA) are the most prevalent cerebrovascular diseases. The conventional antiplatelet drugs are associated with an inherent bleeding risk, while indobufen is a new antiplatelet drug and has the similar mechanism of antiplatelet aggregation as aspirin with more safety profile. However, there have been no studies evaluating the combination therapy of indobufen and clopidogrel for antiplatelet therapy in cerebrovascular diseases.ObjectiveThe CARMIA study aims to investigate the effectiveness and safety of a new dual antiplatelet therapy consisting of indobufen and clopidogrel comparing with the conventional dual antiplatelet therapy consisting of aspirin and clopidogrel in patients with minor ischemic stroke or high-risk TIA.MethodsAn open-label randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted at a clinical center. We randomly assigned patients who had experienced a minor stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) within 72 h of onset, or within 1 month if they had intracranial stenosis (IS), to receive either indobufen 100 mg twice daily or aspirin 100 mg once daily for 21 days. For patients with IS, the treatment duration was extended to 3 months. All patients received a loading dose of 300 mg clopidogrel orally on the first day, followed by 75 mg once daily from the second day to 1 year. We collected prospective data using paper-based case report forms, and followed up on enrolled patients was conducted to assess the incidence of recurrent ischemic stroke or TIA, mRS score, NIHSS (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale) score, and any bleeding events occurring within 3 month after onset.ResultsWe enrolled 202 patients diagnosed with ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack. After applying the criteria, 182 patients were eligible for data analysis. Endpoint events (recurrence of ischemic stroke/TIA, myocardial infarction, or death) were observed in 6 patients (6.5%) receiving aspirin and clopidogrel, including 4 (4.3%) with stroke recurrence, 1 (1.1%) with TIA recurrence, and 1 (1%) with death. In contrast, no endpoint events were reported in the indobufen and clopidogrel group (P = 0.029). The group of patients receiving indobufen and clopidogrel exhibited significantly lower modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score. (scores range from 0 to 6, with higher scores indicating more severe disability) compared to the aspirin and clopidogrel group (common odds ratio 3.629, 95% CI 1.874–7.036, P < 0.0001). Although the improvement rate of NIHSS score in the indobufen and clopidogrel group was higher than that in the aspirin and clopidogrel group, the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Bleeding events were observed in 8 patients (8.6%) receiving aspirin and clopidogrel, including 4 (4.3%) with skin bleeding, 2 (2.2%) with gingival bleeding, 1 (1.1%) with gastrointestinal bleeding, and 1 (1.1%) with urinary system bleeding. On the other hand, only 1 patient (1.1%) in the indobufen and clopidogrel group experienced skin bleeding (P = 0.035).ConclusionThe combination of indobufen and clopidogrel has shown non-inferior and potentially superior effectiveness and safety compared to aspirin combined with clopidogrel in patients with minor ischemic stroke and high-risk TIA in the CARMIA study (registered under chictr.org.cn with registration number ChiCTR2100043087 in 01/02/2021).

High-Sensitivity C-reactive Protein and Intracranial Arterial Stenosis Predicted Recurrent Stroke and Dependence or Death in Minor Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack.

Inflammation is associated with vascular events. We aimed to investigate the relationship between high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels with and without intracranial arterial stenosis (ICAS) and the prognosis of patients with minor stroke or transient ischemic attack. We used data from the Clopidogrel in High-Risk Patients with Acute Nondisabling Cerebrovascular Events trial (derivation cohort) and the Third China National Stroke Registry (validation cohort). Patients were divided into four groups according to the dichotomy of hsCRP level and ICAS status. The primary outcome was new ischemic stroke within 90 days, and the secondary outcome was dependence or death (Modified Rankin Scale score of 3-6) at 90 days. The associations between hsCRP level with and without ICAS and risk of outcomes were analyzed using multivariate Cox regression and logistic regression models. In the derivation cohort, compared with patients with nonelevated hsCRP levels and no ICAS, those with both elevated hsCRP levels and ICAS had increased risk of recurrent stroke (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 2.62; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.28-5.34; p=0.008) and dependence or death (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 7.58; 95% CI, 1.30-44.13; p=0.02). Consistent relationships of elevated hsCRP levels and presence of ICAS with recurrent stroke (adjusted HR, 1.67; 95% CI, 1.13-2.45; p=0.009) and dependence or death (adjusted OR, 1.87; 95% CI, 1.23-2.84; p=0.003) were observed in the validation cohort. Concomitant presence of increased hsCRP levels and ICAS was associated with increased risk of stroke recurrence and dependence or death in patients with minor ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack.

Angiography‑based quantitative flow ratio for functional assessment of intracranial atherosclerotic disease.

Intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS), an important cause of stroke, is associated with a considerable stroke recurrence rate despite optimal medical treatment. Further assessment of the functional significance of ICAS is urgently needed to enable individualised treatment and, thus, improve patient outcomes. We aimed to evaluate the haemodynamic significance of ICAS using the quantitative flow ratio (QFR) technique and to develop a risk stratification model for ICAS patients. Patients with moderate to severe stenosis of the middle cerebral artery, as shown on angiography, were retrospectively enrolled. For haemodynamic assessment, the Murray law-based QFR (μQFR) was performed on eligible patients. Multivariate logistic regression models composed of μQFR and other risk factors were developed and compared for the identification of symptomatic lesions. Based on the superior model, a nomogram was established and validated by calibration. Among 412 eligible patients, symptomatic lesions were found in 313 (76.0%) patients. The μQFR outperformed the degree of stenosis in discriminating culprit lesions (area under the curve [AUC]: 0.726 vs 0.631; DeLong test p-value=0.001), and the model incorporating μQFR and conventional risk factors also performed better than that containing conventional risk factors only (AUC: 0.850 vs 0.827; DeLong test p-value=0.034; continuous net reclassification index=0.620, integrated discrimination improvement=0.057; both p<0.001). The final nomogram showed good calibration (p for Hosmer-Lemeshow test=0.102) and discrimination (C-statistic 0.850, 95% confidence interval: 0.812-0.883). The μQFR was significantly associated with symptomatic ICAS and outperformed the angiographic stenosis severity. The final nomogram effectively discriminated symptomatic lesions and may provide a useful tool for risk stratification in ICAS patients.

Association of sdLDL-C With Incident Carotid Plaques With Stable and Vulnerable Morphology: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Small dense low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (sdLDL-C) particles are more atherogenic than large and intermediate low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) subfractions. We sought to investigate the association of sdLDL-C and the sdLDL-C/LDL-C ratio with incident carotid plaques with stable and vulnerable morphology in rural China. This community-based cohort study used data from the RICAS study (Rose Asymptomatic Intracranial Artery Stenosis), which enrolled 887 participants (aged ≥40 years) who were living in Kongcun Town, Pingyin County, Shandong, and free of carotid plaques and had no history of clinical stroke or transient ischemic attack at baseline (2017). Incident carotid plaques and their vulnerability were detected by carotid ultrasound at follow-up (2021). Multivariable logistic regression models were used to explore the association of sdLDL-C or sdLDL-C/LDL-C ratio with incident carotid plaques while adjusting for demographic factors, vascular risk factors, and follow-up time. Of the 887 participants (mean age [SD], 53.89 [8.67%] years; 54.34% women), 179 (20.18%) were detected with incident carotid plaques during an average follow-up of 3.94 years (SD=0.14). Higher sdLDL-C or sdLDL-C/LDL-C ratio, but not LDL-C, was significantly associated with an increased risk of incident carotid plaques. The upper tertile of sdLDL-C (versus lower tertile) was associated with the multivariate-adjusted odds ratio of 2.48 (95% CI, 1.00-6.15; P=0.049; P for linear trend=0.046) for carotid plaques with vulnerable morphology (n=41), and the association remained significant in participants with normal LDL-C (<130 mg/dL; n=693; upper versus lower tertile: odds ratio, 3.38 [95% CI, 1.15-9.90]; P=0.027; P for linear trend=0.025). Moreover, the sdLDL-C/LDL-C ratio was associated with a higher odds ratio of incident carotid plaques in participants without diabetes (P for interaction=0.014). Higher sdLDL-C was associated with an increased risk of incident carotid plaques, especially carotid plaques with vulnerable morphology, even in participants with normal LDL-C. This suggests the potential of sdLDL-C as a therapeutic target for stroke prevention. URL: https://www.chictr.org.cn; Unique identifier: ChiCTR1800017197.

Has collateral blood flow any effect on restenosis rate? Our experience.

Restenosis is one of the important factors affecting the effectiveness of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting in the treatment of intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis. We aimed to clarify whether recruitable collateral flow could cause restenosis in patients treated with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting. Our study retrospectively analyzed patients with symptomatic severe intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (≥70%) who underwent percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting. We enrolled 28 patients with restenosis and 71 patients without restenosis. We analyzed baseline data, perioperative events, and follow-up results of patients in the two groups. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify restenosis predictors. For preoperative stroke, the restenosis group had a greater likelihood of having a previous stroke (89.3%), which was less prevalent in the non-restenosis group (66.2%) (P = 0.020). The restenosis group had a higher rate of re-stroke (21.4 vs. 4.2%, P = 0.022). After binary logistic regression analysis, collateral circulation and residual stenosis were independent risk factors of restenosis, with overall risk (95% confidence intervals) of 5.034 (1.484-4.066, P < 0.001) and 1.064 (1.006-1.125, P = 0.030), respectively. Restenosis risk increased 1.456-fold for each collateral circulation grade increase. However, for each 1% increase in residual stenosis, restenosis risk increased by 5.9% (P = 0.03). The chance of restenosis is minimal when the residual stenosis rate after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stent implantation is 15.85%. Good collateral circulation was significantly associated with restenosis in patients undergoing intracranial angioplasty, the residual stenosis rate tends to be 15.85% to reduce restenosis risk. Compared to patients with restenosis, those without restenosis have a low stroke risk during follow-up.

Endovascular treatment of symptomatic severe intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis with a novel intracranial dedicated drug-eluting stent: a more effective treatment approach.

Endovascular treatment of severe intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS) using coronary drug-eluting stents (DESs) significantly reduces the risk of in-stent restenosis (ISR) and stroke recurrence. However, there are few reports regarding the treatment of ICAS with intracranial dedicated DES. Herein, we present our experience with the feasibility, safety, and medium-term follow-up outcomes of a novel intracranial DES, named NOVA stent, in patients with symptomatic severe ICAS (≥70%). From December 2021 to May 2022, patients with symptomatic severe ICAS who underwent implantation of the NOVA stent in our institution were retrospectively analyzed for procedural results, perioperative complications, imaging and clinical follow-up outcomes. Twenty-four patients, 16 (66.7%) with anterior circulation lesions and 8 (33.3%) with posterior circulation lesions, were enrolled. All patients with intracranial ICA (n = 6), middle cerebral artery (n = 10), basilar artery (n = 3), intracranial vertebral artery (n = 3), and the vertebrobasilar junction (n = 2) stenosis were treated successfully using NOVA stents. The severity of stenosis ranged from 75 to 96% (mean 85.9%) before treatment and this was reduced to 0 to 20% (mean 8.6%) immediately after stent placement. Symptomatic distal embolism occurred in one case; however, there were no other perioperative complications. The mean follow-up duration was 12.2 ± 1.06 months. No symptomatic ischemic events occurred during follow-up. Follow-up cerebral angiography was performed in 22 of 24 patients (91.7%), and significant ISR occurred in one patient (4.2%). Our results demonstrate that implantation of the novel intracranial DES NOVA in severe ICAS is feasible, safe, and effective in selected cases, reducing the incidence of ISR, and showing excellent midterm clinical outcomes, providing a promising option for ICAS treatment.

Pathology-based brain arterial disease phenotypes and their radiographic correlates

IntroductionBrain arterial diseases, including atherosclerosis, vasculitis, and dissections, are major contributors to cerebrovascular morbidity and mortality worldwide. These diseases not only increase the risk of stroke but also play a significant role in neurodegeneration and dementia. Clear and unambiguous terminology and classification of brain arterial disease phenotypes is crucial for research and clinical practice. Material and methodsThis review aims to summarize and harmonize the terminology used for brain large and small arterial phenotypes based on pathology studies and relate them to imaging phenotypes used in medical research and clinical practice. Conclusions and resultsArteriosclerosis refers to hardening of the arteries but does not specify the underlying etiology. Specific terms such as atherosclerosis, calcification, or non-atherosclerotic fibroplasia are preferred. Atherosclerosis is defined pathologically by an atheroma. Other brain arterial pathologies occur and should be distinguished from atherosclerosis given therapeutic implications. On brain imaging, intracranial arterial luminal stenosis is usually attributed to atherosclerosis in the presence of atherosclerotic risk factors but advanced high-resolution arterial wall imaging has the potential to more accurately identify the underlying pathology. Regarding small vessel disease, arteriosclerosis is ambiguous and arteriolosclerosis is often used to denote the involvement of arterioles rather than arteries. Lipohyalinosis is sometimes used synonymously with arteriolosclerosis, but less accurately describes this common small vessel thickening which uncommonly shows lipid. Specific measures of small vessel wall thickness, the relationship to the lumen as well as changes in the layer composition might convey objective, measurable data regarding the status of brain small vessels.

Treatment of Cerebral Vasospasm Following Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage using the Neurospeed Semi-compliant Balloon.

Cerebral vasospasm (CV) following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) may lead to morbidity and mortality. Endovascular mechanical angioplasty may be performed if symptomatic CV is refractory to noninvasive medical management. Off-label compliant remodelling balloons tend to conform to the course of the vessel, contrary to noncompliant or semi-compliant balloons. Our objective is to describe our initial experience with the semi-compliant Neurospeed balloon (approved for intracranial stenosis) in cerebral vasospasm treatment following aSAH. All patients included in the prospective observational SAVEBRAIN PWI (NCT05276934 on clinicaltrial.gov) study who underwent cerebral angioplasty using the Neurospeed balloon for the treatment of medically refractory and symptomatic CV after aSAH were identified. Patient demographic information, procedural details and outcomes were obtained from electronic medical records. Between February 2022 and June 2023, 8consecutive patients underwent CV treatment with the Neurospeed balloon. Angioplasty of 48arterial segments (supraclinoid internal carotid artery, A1and A2segments of the anterior cerebral artery, M1and M2segments of the middle cerebral artery) was attempted and 44/48 (92%) were performed. The vessel diameter significantly improved following angioplasty (+81%), while brain hypoperfusion decreased (-81% of the mean TMax). There was no long-term clinical complication, 4% periprocedural complications occurred. The semi-compliant Neurospeed balloon is effective in the treatment of cerebral vasospasm following aSAH, bringing anew device into the armamentarium of the neurointerventionalist to perform intracranial angioplasty.

First-in-human experience of sirolimus coated balloon for symptomatic intracranial artery stenosis

BackgroundThe drug coated balloon is a promising endovascular therapy for intracranial atherosclerosis (ICAS), potentially combining the advantages of primary angioplasty and antiproliferative drugs. Previous studies have focused on the paclitaxel...

A case report: new-onset nummular headache after stenting of the middle cerebral artery

BackgroundNummular headache (NH) is categorized as a primary headache in the International Classification of Headache Disorders, Third edition (ICHD-3) diagnostic criteria, but there are secondary etiologies as well. We present a case of secondary NH that associated with vascular lesion.Case presentationWe report on a 40-year-old man with a medical history of symptomatic intracranial arterial stenosis who developed a headache after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting because of Intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis(ICAS). This new-onset headache was a pinprick headache confined to the parietal part of the head and 5 cm in size. This headache most closely resembled the phenotype of a NH. And other causes of secondary headache were excluded. Thus, the diagnosis of NH was highly speculated. This patient represents a rare headache phenomenon after intracranial arterial stent placement.ConclusionThis is the first report of NH after stent placement treatment in a patient with ICAS.

The short-term outcome of intracranial stenosis with distal thrombosis treated with balloon-assisted tracking.

Treating intracranial stenosis with distal thrombosis (IS&DT) using traditional mechanical thrombectomy (MT) techniques has proven challenging. This study aimed to summarize the experience of utilizing the balloon-assisted tracking (BAT) technique for IS&DT. Demographic and morphologic characteristics of patients with IS&DT were collected for this study. The BAT technique, involving a half-deflated balloon outside the intermediate catheter tip, was used in all patients to navigate through the proximal stenosis. Various parameters were recorded, including the sequence of vascular reperfusion, the puncture-to-reperfusion time (PRT), the residual stenosis rate, and the occurrence of re-occlusion. The thrombolysis in cerebral infarction (TICI) scale was used to assess the reperfusion of intracranial vessels, with a TICI score of ≥2b considered as successful perfusion. The clinical status of patients was evaluated at three time points: pre-procedure, post-procedure, and at discharge using the modified Rankin score (mRS). In this study, a total of 10 patients were diagnosed with IS&DT, consisting of 9 male patients (90.0%) and 1 female patient (10.0%). The patients' mean age was 63.10 years (ranging from 29 to 79 years). The mean National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score before treatment was 24.3 (ranging from 12 to 40), indicating the severity of their condition. Following the procedure, all patients achieved successful reperfusion with a thrombolysis in cerebral infarction (TICI) score of ≥2b. The average puncture-to-reperfusion time (PRT) was 51.8 min (ranging from 25 to 100 min), indicating the time taken for the procedure. During the perioperative period, three patients (30.0%) experienced complications. One patient had hemorrhage, while two patients had contrast extravasation. Among these cases, only the patient with hemorrhage (10%) suffered from a permanent neurological function deficit. At discharge, the patient's condition showed improvement. The mean NIHSS score decreased to 13.2 (ranging from 1 to 34), indicating a positive response to treatment. The mean mRS score at discharge was 3.2 (ranging from 1 to 5), showing some level of functional improvement. In conclusion, the use of the balloon-assisted tracking (BAT) technique for treating intracranial stenosis with distal thrombosis (IS&DT) showed promising results. However, a moderate rate of perioperative complications was observed, warranting further investigation and refinement of the procedure.

Preliminary findings on diagnostic performance of computed tomography perfusion images for intracranial arterial stenosis: a retrospective study

ObjectivesComputed tomographic perfusion (CTP) can play an auxiliary role in the selection of patients with acute ischemic stroke for endovascular treatment. However, data on CTP in non-stroke patients with intracranial arterial stenosis are scarce. We aimed to investigate images in patients with asymptomatic intracranial arterial stenosis to determine the detection accuracy and interpretation time of large/medium-artery stenosis or occlusion when combining computed tomographic angiography (CTA) and CTP images.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed 39 patients with asymptomatic intracranial arterial stenosis from our hospital database from January 2021 to August 2023 who underwent head CTP, head CTA, and digital subtraction angiography (DSA). Head CTA images were generated from the CTP data, and the diagnostic performance for each artery was assessed. Two readers independently interpreted the CTA images before and after CTP, and the results were analyzed.ResultsAfter adding CTP maps, the accuracy (area under the curve) of diagnosing internal carotid artery (R1: 0.847 vs. 0.907, R2: 0.776 vs. 0.887), middle cerebral artery (R1: 0.934 vs. 0.933, R2: 0.927 vs. 0.981), anterior cerebral artery (R1: 0.625 vs. 0.750, R2: 0.609 vs. 0.750), vertebral artery (R1: 0.743 vs. 0.764, R2: 0.748 vs. 0.846), and posterior cerebral artery (R1: 0.390 vs. 0.575, R2: 0.390 vs. 0.585) occlusions increased for both readers (p < 0.05). Mean interpretation time (R1: 72.4 ± 6.1 s vs. 67.7 ± 6.4 s, R2: 77.7 ± 3.8 s vs. 72.6 ± 4.7 s) decreased when using a combination of both images both readers (p < 0.001).ConclusionsThe addition of CTP images improved the accuracy of interpreting CTA images and reduced the interpretation time in asymptomatic intracranial arterial stenosis. These findings support the use of CTP imaging in patients with asymptomatic intracranial arterial stenosis.

Improvement of cerebral blood flow after balloon angioplasty and stenting for symptomatic middle cerebral artery stenosis

Objective Although reports of endovascular treatment for intracranial arterial stenosis have been increasing recently, their efficacy remains to be elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the changes in cerebral hemodynamics of severe middle cerebral artery (MCA) stenosis patients by performing CT perfusion (CTP) after endovascular treatment. Methods Subjects were those who underwent balloon angioplasty and stenting for symptomatic MCA M1 stenosis refractory to medical therapy at our hospital between 2008 and 2022. We included 36 patients (mean age 63.69 ± 15.24 years, 20 males) who underwent CTP before and within three weeks after treatment. The CTP parameters such as relative cerebral blood flow (rCBF), relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV), and relative mean transit time (rMTT) were calculated as ipsilateral values divided by contralateral value. Results Endovascular treatment consisted of 26 balloon angioplasty and 10 stenting procedures performed at an average of 1 month from onset. CTP was performed at an average of 5.5 days postoperatively. The mean overall stenosis rate decreased from 79.0% to 30.3%. In the balloon angioplasty group, it decreased from 77.6% to 35.3%, and in the stent group, it decreased from 82.7% to 17.5%. After treatment, rCBF and rMTT measured by CTP improved significantly (both p &lt; 0.001), whereas there was no significant change in rCBV. The improvement rates of rCBF and rMTT were mild higher in the stent group, but not significantly so. Conclusion Balloon angioplasty and stenting for symptomatic MCA improved cerebral hemodynamics, resulting in significantly increased rCBF and decreased rMTT.

Balloon-mounting stent versus balloon angioplasty for intracranial arterial stenosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundIntracranial artery atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS) is a major cause of stroke, especially in Asian countries. Current treatment options, including balloon-mounted stent (BMS) and balloon angioplasty (BA), lack sufficient evidence to determine a preferred approach. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of BMS and BA in treating ICAS. MethodsFollowing PRISMA 2020 guidelines, we conducted a comprehensive search in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus up to December 1, 2023. Eligible studies compared BMS with BA in patients diagnosed with ICAS. Primary outcomes included the success rate and occurrence of stroke (ischemic or hemorrhagic). Secondary outcomes were perforator occlusion, in-stent thrombosis, death, and restenosis. Statistical analysis was conducted using R software version 4.3.1, employing a random-effects model. ResultsFive high-quality studies involving 707 patients (515 males, 192 females) were included. BMS had a significantly higher success rate compared to BA (Risk Ratio [RR]: 1.13; CI: 1.03 to 1.24, p < 0.01; I2 = 14 %). The overall risk for stroke (ischemic and hemorrhagic) was significantly higher in BMS (RR: 2.97; CI: 1.32 to 6.67, p < 0.01; I2 = 0 %). However, no significant difference was found between BMS and BA regarding ischemic stroke (RR: 2.33; CI: 0.80 to 6.74, p = 0.12; I2 = 0 %). Additionally, no significant differences were observed in terms of perforator occlusion, in-stent thrombosis, dissection, minor and major strokes, and mortality rates. BMS was associated with a lower risk of restenosis (RR: 0.31; 95 % CI: 0.12 to 0.83, p = 0.02; I2 = 0 %). ConclusionOur results indicate that BMS might be associated with higher success and lower restenosis rates than BA in the treatment of ICAS but with an increased overall risk of stroke. No significant differences were observed in ischemic stroke, perforator occlusion, in-stent thrombosis, dissection, minor and major strokes, and mortality rates. The choice of treatment should consider these findings, alongside the technical challenges and desired angiographic outcomes. Future randomized controlled trials are necessary to further elucidate these results.

Thromboelastographic and Gene Polymorphism Bimodality Detection for Dual Antiplatelet Aggregation Therapy in Individuals with Clopidogrel-resistant Symptomatic Intracranial Artery Stenosis.

Recent research indicates that clopidogrel resistance is connected with a patient's future ischemia risk, hence increasing the likelihood of recurrent ischemic cerebrovascular disease. Thromboelastographic and clopidogrel gene polymorphism testing can be used to see how a person responds to antiplatelet therapy and change the treatment plan accordingly. This may be a good way to make antiplatelet aggregation therapy more effective and safer. The objective of this study was to investigate the efficacy of dual antiplatelet aggregation therapy in patients with symptomatic intracranial large artery stenosis being resistant to clopidogrel tablets. The thromboelastographic and gene polymorphism bimodality detection techniques were used to analyze the clopidogrel resistance influencing factors. 89 patients with symptomatic intracranial large arterial stenosis who were admitted to our hospital from February 2021 to February 2022 were selected, classified as large artery atherosclerotic type by TOAST, and confirmed as having severe intracranial large arterial stenosis (70 % to 99 %) by magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), computed tomographic angiography (CTA), and digital subtraction angiography (DSA). All patients were treated with dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and clopidogrel, and thromboelastography and clopidogrel gene polymorphism were monitored 1 week later. 44 of 89 patients were clopidogrel-resistant. Among 44 patients, 20 were ticagrelorresistant and 24 were cilostazol-resistant. Clopidogrel had a resistance rate of 49.4%. The recurrence of ischemic cerebrovascular disease in the three groups was statistically significant (P<0.05) after 3 months of follow-up treatment, but bleeding (intracranial, gastrointestinal, respiratory, urinary, and mucocutaneous) and dyspnea were not. The clopidogrel-resistant group had a higher number of females, as well as higher levels of hypertension, diabetes, and platelet count than the sensitive group (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in age, smoking, alcohol consumption, previous stroke, glycosylated haemoglobin, creatinine, or low-density cholesterol. Using thromboelastographic and gene polymorphism bimodality detection, we found switching to ticagrelor antiplatelet aggregation therapy as better than switching to cilostazol in patients with symptomatic intracranial large artery stenosis being resistant to clopidogrel tablets. The results may be biased due to the study being a single-centre study and having a limited sample size.

Future of Endovascular and Surgical Treatments of Atherosclerotic Intracranial Stenosis.

Intracranial atherosclerotic disease and resultant intracranial stenosis is a global leading cause of stroke, and poses an ongoing treatment challenge. Among patients with intracranial stenosis, those with hemodynamic compromise are at high risk for recurrent stroke despite medical therapy and risk factor modification. Revascularization of the hypoperfused territory is the most plausible treatment strategy for these high-risk patients, yet surgical and endovascular therapies have not yet shown to be sufficiently safe and effective in randomized controlled trials. Advances in diagnostic and therapeutic technologies have led to a resurgence of interest in surgical and endovascular treatment strategies, with a growing body of evidence to support their further evaluation in the treatment of select patient populations. This review outlines the current and emerging endovascular and surgical treatments and highlights promising future management strategies.

CT-derived fractional flow reserve in intracranial arterial stenosis: A pilot study based on computational fluid dynamics

BackgroundCT-derived fractional flow reserve (CT-FFR) has been widely applied in coronary hemodynamic assessment. However, the feasieablity and standardization measurement in intracranial artery stenosis (ICAS) remains to be defined. PurposeTo demonstrate the feasibility of CT-FFR in ICAS functional assessment and explore the optimal CT-FFR measurement position with invasive FFR as reference standard. Materials and methodsNineteen patients (mean age, 58.6 years ± 1.9 [SD]; 13 men) with moderate to severe (≥50 %) ICAS undergoing guidewire-based pressure measurement and preoperative head CT angiography (CTA) were retrospectively enrolled. CT-FFR was measured in the following standard measurement positions, including the end of stenosis (D0), 1 cm distal to the stenosis (D1) and 2 cm distal to the stenosis (D2). Diagnostic performance of CT-FFR was assessed by the area under the curve (AUC) of receiver operating characteristic curves by assuming invasive FFR ≤ 0.80 or 0.75 as hemodynamically significant stenosis. ResultsExcellent intra- and inter-observer agreement (ICC range, 0.930–0.992) was observed for CT-FFR measurement in different positions. Under different FFR thresholds, the diagnostic performance of CT-FFRD1 showed perfect prediction with AUC values of 1.000 (95 % CI: 0.824, 1.000). The sensitivity, specificity and AUC of CT-FFRD1 ≤ 0.80 in detecting FFR ≤ 0.80 was 0.94 (95 % CI: 0.68, 1.00), 1.00 (95 % CI: 0.31, 1.00) and 0.969 (95 % CI: 0.772, 1.000), respectively. Similar performance of CT-FFRD1 ≤ 0.75 was obtained for identifying FFR ≤ 0.75 with the AUC of 0.964. The strongest correlation (r = 0.915, p < 0.001) and agreement (mean difference: 0.02, 95 % limits of agreement: −0.16 to 0.19) were observed between CT-FFRD1 and FFR. ConclusionCerebral CT-derived fractional flow reserve (CT-FFR) measured 1 cm distal to stenosis achieved the most comparable results with invasive FFR, which indicated its potentially promising clinical application for evaluating the functional relevance of intracranial artery stenosis.

Abstract TP174: Balloon Expandable Stents versus Self-Expanding Stents for Treatment of Intracranial Arterial Stenosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: There is limited data regarding the comparison of balloon-expanding stents (BES) and self-expanding stents (SES) for the treatment of intracranial arterial stenosis. Methods: We conducted a systematic review to identify studies that compared SES and BES in patients with symptomatic intracranial arterial stenosis. Data were extracted from relevant studies found through a search of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science until May 2023. Statistical pooling with random-effects meta-analysis was undertaken to compare the rates/severity of post-procedure stenosis, technical success, stroke and/or mortality, long-term events, and restenosis rates between BES and SES. Results: A total of 20 studies were included. The standardized mean difference (SMD) for post-procedure stenosis (%) was significantly lower (SMD: -0.52, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.79 to -0.24, p &lt; 0.001, 10 studies involving 1515 patients) with BES. The odds for technical success were non-significantly lower (odds ratio [OR]: 0.99, 95% CI 0.43-2.26, p = 0.983, 9 studies involving 1001 patients) with BES. The odds for post-procedure 30-day stroke and/or death were significantly lower (OR 0.68, 95% CI: 0.50-0.94, p = 0.019, 15 studies involving 2431 patients), and stroke and/or death beyond 30 days were non-significantly lower (OR 0.64, 95% CI: 0.30-1.37, p = 0.250, 10 studies involving 947 patients) with BES. The odds for restenosis rate were significantly lower (OR 0.50, 95% CI: 0.31-0.80, p = 0.004, 13 studies involving 1115 patients) with BES. Conclusions: Compared with SES, BES was associated with lower rates of post-procedure 30-day stroke and/or death presumably due to less severe post-procedure stenosis in the treatment of symptomatic intracranial arterial stenosis.

Abstract TP299: The Relationship Between Intracranial Arterial Stenosis Rate and Cerebral Perfusion

Background and and Objectives: The pressure ratio (PR) across lesions is a vital indicator for assessing residual blood flow after stenosis, yet the relationship between symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis degrees and cross-lesion pressure ratios remains unclear. Methods: Data were derived from the Chinese National Stroke Registry III (CNSR III). Three-dimensional meshes were constructed based on TOF-MRA using the finite element method controlled by the Navier-Stokes equation to obtain pressure values. PR was calculated as the ratio of proximal to distal pressure at the stenosis site, indicating post-stenosis blood flow. PR &gt; 0.76 meant normal pressure ratio, while PR ≤ 0.76 indicated reduced ratio. Arterial stenosis severity was categorized using the WASID Method: 50%-69% for moderate and 70%-99% for severe. Statistical analysis explored the correlation between stenosis severity and low PR. Results: The study included 438 patients with symptomatic intracranial arterial stenosis (50-99%), median age 64, 33.79% female. PR ≤ 0.76 accounted for 30%. Among them, PR ≤ 0.76 was observed in 26% of moderate stenosis (50-69%) patients and 39% of severe stenosis (70-99%) patients (Figure A). The PR ≤ 0.76 frequency was significantly higher in severe compared to moderate stenosis (P=0.01). For anterior (Figure B) and posterior (Figure C) circulation stenosis, PR ≤ 0.76 accounted for 43% and 22% respectively, more prevalent in severe stenosis (P=0.01 and P=0.61, respectively). Conclusion: Most patients with symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis exhibit normal PR levels, with a correlation between arterial stenosis and cross-lesion pressure ratio. Further research is needed to determine if PR is a more suitable criterion than arterial stenosis for selecting patients for stent treatment.

Randomized Secondary Prevention Trials in Participants With Symptomatic Intracranial Atherosclerotic Stenosis.

Intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis is a prevalent cause of ischemic stroke worldwide. Its association with silent cerebral infarcts and its contribution to cognitive impairment and dementia emphasize the critical need for disease prevention and effective management strategies. Despite extensive research on secondary stroke prevention treatment over the past several decades, intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis continues to exhibit a notably higher recurrent stroke rate compared with other causes. This review focuses on randomized secondary prevention trials involving antithrombotic therapy, endovascular treatment, open surgical therapy, and remote ischemic conditioning. It aims to provide an insightful overview of the major findings from each trial and their implications for future research efforts.