BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: 20% of ischemic stroke is in the posterior circulation, but there is little prospective data on early recurrent stroke risk and whether vertebrobasilar stenosis predicts a high recurrence risk. This natural history data are important as it is technically possible to stent such lesions. Contrast enhanced MRA (CE-MRA) and CT angiography (CTA) now allow noninvasive identification of vertebrobasilar stenosis. METHODS: 216 consecutive patients presenting with posterior circulation TIA or stroke were recruited and prospectively followed for 90 days. 8 patients with vertebral dissection were excluded. CE-MRA or CTA at presentation and 90-day follow-up was available in 182. Any posterior circulation TIA/stroke in the month before the presenting episode was recorded. RESULTS: Taking the first event (including TIA/stroke in the previous month) as the index case recurrent stroke risk in patients with stenosis was 30.5% versus 8.9% in those without; RR 3.4 (95% CI 1.7 to 7.0), P<0.001). Taking the presenting episode as the index case the risk was 13.8% versus 4.1%; RR 3.4 (95% CI 1.1 to 10.5) P=0.0274. The probability of recurrence was highest soon after the initial event. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of vertebro-basilar stenosis identifies a group of patients with posterior circulation stroke who have a high early recurrent stroke risk. Early intervention might reduce recurrent stroke risk. Vertebral stenosis can now be treated by stenting, but determining whether this reduces the early stoke risk requires randomized controlled trials.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: 20% of ischemic stroke is in the posterior circulation, but there is little prospective data on early recurrent stroke risk and whether vertebrobasilar stenosis predicts a high recurrence risk. This natural history data are important as it is technically possible to stent such lesions. Contrast enhanced MRA (CE-MRA) and CT angiography (CTA) now allow noninvasive identification of vertebrobasilar stenosis. METHODS: 216 consecutive patients presenting with posterior circulation TIA or stroke were recruited and prospectively followed for 90 days. 8 patients with vertebral dissection were excluded. CE-MRA or CTA at presentation and 90-day follow-up was available in 182. Any posterior circulation TIA/stroke in the month before the presenting episode was recorded. RESULTS: Taking the first event (including TIA/stroke in the previous month) as the index case recurrent stroke risk in patients with stenosis was 30.5% versus 8.9% in those without; RR 3.4 (95% CI 1.7 to 7.0), P<0.001). Taking the presenting episode as the index case the risk was 13.8% versus 4.1%; RR 3.4 (95% CI 1.1 to 10.5) P=0.0274. The probability of recurrence was highest soon after the initial event. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of vertebro-basilar stenosis identifies a group of patients with posterior circulation stroke who have a high early recurrent stroke risk. Early intervention might reduce recurrent stroke risk. Vertebral stenosis can now be treated by stenting, but determining whether this reduces the early stoke risk requires randomized controlled trials.
Authors: Sepideh Amin-Hanjani; Xinjian Du; Linda Rose-Finnell; Dilip K Pandey; DeJuran Richardson; Keith R Thulborn; Mitchell S V Elkind; Gregory J Zipfel; David S Liebeskind; Frank L Silver; Scott E Kasner; Victor A Aletich; Louis R Caplan; Colin P Derdeyn; Philip B Gorelick; Fady T Charbel Journal: Stroke Date: 2015-05-14 Impact factor: 7.914
Authors: A Korn; M Fenchel; B Bender; S Danz; C Thomas; D Ketelsen; C D Claussen; G Moonis; B Krauss; M Heuschmid; U Ernemann; H Brodoefel Journal: Neuroradiology Date: 2012-12-08 Impact factor: 2.804
Authors: Sepideh Amin-Hanjani; Dilip K Pandey; Linda Rose-Finnell; Xinjian Du; DeJuran Richardson; Keith R Thulborn; Mitchell S V Elkind; Gregory J Zipfel; David S Liebeskind; Frank L Silver; Scott E Kasner; Victor A Aletich; Louis R Caplan; Colin P Derdeyn; Philip B Gorelick; Fady T Charbel Journal: JAMA Neurol Date: 2016-02 Impact factor: 18.302
Authors: Man Kwun Andrew Li; Anderson Chun On Tsang; Frederick Chun Pong Tsang; Wai Shing Ho; Raymand Lee; Gilberto Ka Kit Leung; Wai Man Lui Journal: Clin Neuroradiol Date: 2018-07-23 Impact factor: 3.649
Authors: Ilko L Maier; André Karch; Christina Lipke; Daniel Behme; Anastasios Mpotsaris; Christoph Kabbasch; Thomas Liebig; Andrea Faymonville; Arno Reich; Omid Nikoubashman; Jan-Hendrik Buhk; Patrick von Schoenfeld; Werner Weber; Rafael T Mikolajczyk; Mathias Bähr; Michael Knauth; Kai Kallenberg; Jan Liman Journal: Clin Neuroradiol Date: 2016-08-09 Impact factor: 3.649
Authors: Hongliang Feng; Yi Xie; Bin Mei; Yang Liu; Benlei Li; Changqing Yin; Tao Wang; Yumin Liu Journal: J Neurol Date: 2016-08-20 Impact factor: 4.849