PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether the hemodynamic consequences of extracranial carotid disease correlate with the risk of subsequent cerebral infarction. METHODS: In 95 patients with symptoms who had greater than or equal to 70% stenosis (31 patients) or who had occlusion (64 patients) of the ipsilateral carotid artery, cerebral blood flow was measured by the stable xenon/computed tomography technique both at baseline and after vasodilatory challenge with intravenous acetazolamide. Patients were stratified into group 1, 43 patients with no more than a 5% decrease in flow in any vascular territory, and group 2, 52 patients with greater than a 5% decrease in one or more vascular territories after an acetazolamide challenge. RESULTS: In group 2, 15 (28.9%) of 52 patients had a new stroke, but only one (2.3%) of 43 patients in group 1 did (p = 0.0005). Of patients with total carotid occlusion 10 (26%) of 38 in group 2 and none (0%) of 26 in group 1 had a new stroke (p = 0.003). Of patients with greater than or equal to 70% stenosis, five (36%) of 14 in group 2 and only one (6%) of 17 in group 1 had a stroke (p = 0.067). CONCLUSION: The loss of cerebral reactivity in patients with symptoms who had greater than or equal to 70% carotid stenosis or occlusion is an important predictor of impending cerebral infarction.
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether the hemodynamic consequences of extracranial carotid disease correlate with the risk of subsequent cerebral infarction. METHODS: In 95 patients with symptoms who had greater than or equal to 70% stenosis (31 patients) or who had occlusion (64 patients) of the ipsilateral carotid artery, cerebral blood flow was measured by the stable xenon/computed tomography technique both at baseline and after vasodilatory challenge with intravenous acetazolamide. Patients were stratified into group 1, 43 patients with no more than a 5% decrease in flow in any vascular territory, and group 2, 52 patients with greater than a 5% decrease in one or more vascular territories after an acetazolamide challenge. RESULTS: In group 2, 15 (28.9%) of 52 patients had a new stroke, but only one (2.3%) of 43 patients in group 1 did (p = 0.0005). Of patients with total carotid occlusion 10 (26%) of 38 in group 2 and none (0%) of 26 in group 1 had a new stroke (p = 0.003). Of patients with greater than or equal to 70% stenosis, five (36%) of 14 in group 2 and only one (6%) of 17 in group 1 had a stroke (p = 0.067). CONCLUSION: The loss of cerebral reactivity in patients with symptoms who had greater than or equal to 70% carotid stenosis or occlusion is an important predictor of impending cerebral infarction.
Authors: A P Carlson; A M Brown; E Zager; K Uchino; M P Marks; C Robertson; G P Sinson; A Marmarou; H Yonas Journal: AJNR Am J Neuroradiol Date: 2011-06-23 Impact factor: 3.825