Clinical implications of collateral middle cerebral artery flow in acute ischaemic stroke with internal carotid artery occlusion

Background and purpose: The presence of collateral middle cerebral artery (MCA) flow via the primary collateral pathway is thought to protect against the progression of cerebral ischaemia. However, there have been few reports on early clinical outcomes according to the presence of collateral MCA flow in acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) with internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion. Therefore, we sought to investigate the early clinical outcomes and lesion patterns according to the presence of collateral MCA flows in AIS with ICA occlusion. Methods: This is a retrospective study of patients with AIS with ICA occlusion consecutively admitted to our stroke center between October 2008 and March 2010. Patients were included if they were admitted within 12 h of symptom onset with AIS and symptomatic ICA occlusion. Collateral MCA flow was defined as the presence of MCA signals from proximal M1 to distal MCA branches ipsilateral to the ICA occlusion by magnetic resonance angiography. Early neurological deterioration (END) was defined as a 4‐point increase in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score and persistent neurological deterioration for at least 24 h or newly developed neurological symptoms within 7 days. Results: Sixty‐five patients (42 men, 23 women) were finally included. Initial NIHSS scores were significantly lower, and favorable outcomes at 3 months were better in patients with collateral MCA flow than in those without (P < 0.001). Initial lesion patterns were different according to the collateral MCA flow. However, patients with mild AIS might more frequently deteriorate than those with moderate to severe AIS. Conclusions: In our study, collateral MCA flow reduced initial stroke severity and was associated with favorable outcomes at 3 months but did not seem to protect against END in mild AIS patients with ICA occlusion. Therefore, the results of this study suggest that mild AIS patients with ICA occlusion should be carefully managed because their conditions may deteriorate.     

Ultrasonographic markers of vascular risk in patients with asymptomatic carotid stenosis

Six-hundred twenty-one subjects with unilateral asymptomatic severe internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis were prospectively evaluated with a median follow-up of 27 months (min=6, max=68). Vascular risk profile, plaque characteristic, stenosis progression, and common carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) were investigated in all patients. Outcome measures were occurrence of ischemic stroke ipsilateral to ICA stenosis and vascular death, while myocardial infarction, contralateral strokes, and transient ischemic attack were considered as competing events. A total of 99 subjects (15.9%) suffered from a vascular event. Among them, 39 were strokes ipsilateral to the stenosis (6.3%). Degree of stenosis, stenosis progression, and common carotid artery IMT resulted as independent predictive factors of ipsilateral stroke. Considering a stenosis of 60% to 70% as reference, a degree between 71% and 90% increased the risk by 2.45, while a degree between 91% and 99% increased the risk by 3.26. The progression of stenosis was a strong risk factor (hazard ratio=4.32). Finally, the role of carotid IMT was confirmed as crucial additional measure, with an increased risk by 25% for each 0.1 mm IMT increase. Our data suggest that IMT, stenosis progression and severity should be considered as risk factors for cerebrovascular events in asymptomatic subjects with severe ICA stenosis.     

Heart and carotid artery disease in stroke patients with intermittent claudication

Much has been published on the natural history of intermittent claudication (IC), but little is known about the clinical features of stroke patients with IC. The purpose of this study was to examine clinical features and risk factors in stroke patients with or without IC, including heart disease and carotid artery disease. A hospital-based study was conducted of 3901 stroke patients, who were prospectively coded and entered into a computerized databank. Of these patients, 219 had symptoms of IC. Patients were subdivided by age into 10-year categories. There were at least 12 times more non-IC than IC patients in each category. An age-matched random sample was obtained containing 12 non-IC cases for each IC case, resulting in 219 cases of IC and 2628 non-IC cases. The prevalence of IC in the total stroke population was 5.6%. IC prevalence increased sharply with age until about 70 years. Cardiac ischaemia and internal carotid artery (ICA) disease were significantly more frequent in stroke with IC than without IC. IC patients also exhibited a higher prevalence of atherosclerotic disease as well as other risk factors such as smoking, hypercholesterolaemia, elevated haematocrit, and family history of stroke. Ischaemic heart disease and ICA disease are especially common in stroke with IC. IC, large artery disease and stroke share similar risk factors. IC symptoms in stroke patients may indicate extensive generalized atherosclerosis.     

Doppler study of the ophthalmic artery in patients with carotid occlusive disease

Assessing the adequacy of collateral circulatory pathways has become increasingly important in the investigation of cerebral circulation. Using transorbital Doppler ultrasonography (TOD), we examined the ophthalmic artery (OA) in patients with hernodynamic significant internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusive disease. The velocity and the direction of flow in the OA were studied in 45 patients (occlusion n = 27, stenosis > 75% n = 18), and in 30 age matched controls, under baseline conditions and within 30 minutes after the i.v. administration of 1 g acetazolamide as a vasodilatory stimulus. Based on the direction of flow before and after acetazolamide, the 45 patients could be separated into four groups with increasing degree of ICA lesions. In group I the OA flow was anterograde, but the velocity decreased after acetazolamide. In group II the OA direction became retrograde after acetazolamide, indicating collateral flow to the brain. In patients with retrograde OA flow following acetazolamide injection (group 11-IV), the vessel reacted similarly to an intracranial artery, with marked increase in velocity when vasoreactivity was tested. TOD and the acetazolamide test provide useful information about potential collateral OA flow to the brain in patients with ICA occlusive disease.     

Spect measurements of regional cerebral perfusion and carbondioxide reactivity: Correlation with cerebral collaterals in internal carotid artery occlusive disease

Background The aim of the present study was to assess the regional variation in cerebral perfusion, vasomotor reactivity (VMR) and the role of cerebral collaterals in patients with symptomatic internal carotid artery (ICA). Methods Seventeen functionally independent patients (60±9 years, mean±SD) with a unilateral symptomatic internal carotid artery occlusion and a <30% contralateral ICA stenosis were investigated. (99 m) Tc-hexamethyl propyleneamine oxime (HMPAO) single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) was performed to study cerebral blood flow in rest and during a CO₂ challenge in the cerebellum, temporal lobe, occipital lobe, basal ganglia, frontal lobe and parietal lobe. Time of flight and phase contrast MRA were used to study collateral flow via circle of Willis. Results In rest, cerebral perfusion on the side ipsilateral to the ICA occlusion was decreased compared with the contralateral side in the basal ganglia (p<0.05), frontal lobe (p<0.01) and parietal lobe (p<0.01). During a CO₂ challenge only the ipsilateral frontal lobe demonstrated a perfusion decrease compared with the contralateral frontal lobe (p<0.05). Furthermore, in patients without collateral flow via the anterior circle of Willis the perfusion of the ipsilateral frontal lobe was significantly decreased (p<0.01) during the CO₂ challenge and crossed cerebellar diaschisis with a decreased perfusion on the contralateral cerebellar hemisphere was detected (p<0.05). No cerebral blood flow (CBF) differences were found for present/absent collateral flow via the posterior communicating artery. Conclusion Regional assessment of cerebral perfusion and VMR with SPECT demonstrated the heterogeneity of cerebral hemodynamics and the importance of collateral flow via the anterior circle of Willis. Received in revised form: 22 November 2005     

Clinical significance of the ophthalmic artery in carotid artery disease

A total of 141 subjects with tight stenosis (≥75%) or occlusion of internal carotid artery were followed up at intervals 3–6 months regularly for 40 ± 16 months. The direction of ophthalmic artery flow was used as a parameter of risk indicator on cerebral ischemic events. Eleven patients with bilateral carotid tight stenosis/occlusion were excluded in the analysis. Thus, the 130 carotid arteries were divided into three groups: (1) carotid artery with ipsilateral hemispheric TIA or stroke (85 patients), (2) carotid arteries with contralateral hemispheric TIA/stroke or VBI (15 patients), and (3) carotid arteries of asymptomatic patients (30 patients). The symptomatic carotid artery group (group 1) had significantly more often reversed ophthalmic flow than the other two groups (group 2 and 3, p < 0.001). During follow-up prospectively for four years, 41 patients had cerebral ischemic events, three had cardiac ischemic events and six died of malignancy. Patients with reversed OA flow had more often subsequent cerebral ischemic events than those with forward flow (27 vs 14, p = 0.010). However, the difference remained significant only in the asymptomatic patients (group 3, 4 vs 0, P < 0.001), not for groups 1 and 2, after further analysis. Our work supported that the clinical role of ophthalmic artery collateral varied between asymptomatic and symptomatic patients.     

颈内动脉急性闭塞致大面积脑梗死侧支循环建立及影响因素

目的评估颈内动脉急性闭塞致大面积脑梗死侧枝循环建立情况及影响因素。方法纳入29例经诊断为颈内动脉急性闭塞致大面积脑梗死的患者,所有患者均行颈动脉超声、经颅多普勒超声(TCD)、头颅CT、头颅磁共振血管造影(MRA)、心电图检查,同时收集患者基本信息。结果一级侧枝循环建立与糖尿病显著相关(P 0. 05),与房颤、高血压、吸烟、NIHSS评分无关(P 0. 05)。二级侧枝循环建立与房颤、高血压、糖尿病、吸烟、NIHSS评分均无关(P 0. 05)。心源性脑栓塞导致的急性大面积脑梗死与脑疝显著相关(P 0. 05)。TCD评估一级侧枝循环的建立与MRA具有高度一致性(Kappa值=0. 656,P 0. 05)。结论糖尿病可促进颈内动脉急性闭塞导致的大面积脑梗死一级侧枝开放。心源性脑栓塞导致的大面积脑梗死易发生脑疝。TCD可以较好评估颈内动脉急性闭塞导致的大面积脑梗死的一级侧枝循环建立。     

Sex-associated differences in the modulation of vascular risk in patients with asymptomatic carotid stenosis

In this study, we aimed to identify determinants of the different sex-related stroke risk in subjects with asymptomatic internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis. In all, 492 women (44.4%) and 617 men (55.6%), with unilateral ⩾60% asymptomatic ICA stenosis, were prospectively evaluated with a median follow-up of 37 months (interquartile range, 26 to 43). Vascular risk profile, plaque characteristics, stenosis progression, and common carotid artery intima-media thickness were investigated. Outcome measure was the occurrence of ischemic stroke ipsilateral to ICA stenosis. Myocardial infarction, contralateral stroke and transient ischemic attack were considered as competing events. The incidence rate of ipsilateral stroke over the entire follow-up period was 0.16%: 0.09% (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.05 to 0.15) in women and 0.22% (95% CI 0.17 to 0.29) in men (log-rank test, P<0.001). Stenosis progression significantly influenced the risk of ipsilateral stroke in both men (subhazard ratio, SHR, 8.99) and women (SHR 4.89). Stenosis degree (71% to 90%, SHR 2.35; 91% to 99%, SHR 3.38) and irregular plaque surface (SHR 2.32) were relevant risk factors for ipsilateral stroke only in men. Our findings suggest that characteristics of the stenosis and plaque exert a different effect in modulating vascular risk in the two sexes. Understanding sex differences in cardiovascular disease could help to target sex-specific future therapies.     

Cerebral blood flow and common carotid flow in neurologically asymptomatic carotid endarterectomy patients

To define subgroups in 50 neurologically asymptomatic patients with carotid stenosis (mean diam. of stenosis 81.1 ± 12.5%) regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and common carotid artery flow were measured by means of the intravenous Xenon-133 technique and a Doppler flowmeter; respectively. The rCBF studies were performed both at rest and after administration of acetazolamide (Diamox). In this asymptomatic cohort of 50 patients we found subgroups with significant hemispheric baseline asymmetry (BA) (five patients; BA = 7.2 ± 1.8%) and/or pathological Diamox asymmetry enhancement (DAE) (five patients; DAE = 8.8 ± 1.3%). Carotid endarterectomy in these cases resulted in a significant reduction of hemispheric differences of rCBF (postoperative BA = 0.4 ± 3.4, postoperative DAE = 1.7 ± 3.8). Measurements of common carotid flow revealed significantly higher flow rates in the postoperative period and compensation of intercarotid flow asymmetry. In pathophysiologically defined preclinical subgroups of cerebrovascular disease with hemispheric rCBF differences and/or impairment of the cerebral vascular reserve capacity surgical procedures might be useful.     

Cerebral dysautoregulation and the risk of ischemic events in occlusive carotid artery disease

Dynamic cerebral autoregulation assessed from blood pressure transients can be considerably impaired in severe internal carotid artery (ICA) obstruction. It is unknown whether impaired autoregulation indicates an increased risk of subsequent ischemic events in this situation. 165 patients with ICA stenosis (> 70 %) or occlusion were prospectively followed until anterior circulation stroke, transient ischemic attack, carotid recanalization without prior event, death or study end. Transcranial Doppler sonography was used to determine autoregulation in both middle cerebral arteries from spontaneous blood pressure fluctuations (correlation coefficient indices Dx and Mx) and respiratory- induced 0.1 Hz oscillations (phase). Standard CO₂ reactivity (CO₂R) was additionally assessed. All indices were classified as impaired vs. preserved according to reference values from 79 agematched controls. During median follow-up of 24.5 months, there were 16 ischemic events over ipsilateral sides. Competing risk analysis revealed a significant predictive effect on ipsilateral ischemic events for impaired Dx (rate ratio 8.2 [95 % confidence interval 1.7–39], p = 0.0079), phase (5.0 [2–13], p = 0.0007) and CO₂R (9.4 [2.2–40], p = 0.0025). Restricting analysis to severe stenosis alone (n = 103), only impaired phase (rate ratio 8.6 [1.6–45], p = 0.01) remained as a significant predictor. In a continuous statistical model, only Dx and Mx were significant predictors of ischemic events (p = 0.012 and p = 0.016). In conclusion, impaired dynamic cerebral autoregulation indicates an increased risk of subsequent ischemic events in severe obstructive ICA disease. Its clinical application might thus be of help in identifying higher risk patients.     

Preoperative brain temperature imaging on proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy predicts hemispheric ischemia during carotid endarterectomy for unilateral carotid stenosis with inadequate collateral blood flow

Objective Preoperative magnetic resonance (MR) angiography sometimes shows the absence of collateral flow via the circle of Willis. This study examined whether brain temperature (BT) imaging on multi-voxel proton MR spectroscopy after this finding increases the accuracy of predicting hemispheric ischemia during internal carotid artery (ICA) clamping during endarterectomy for patients with symptomatic unilateral carotid stenosis.

Methods In 52 patients with ICA stenosis (≥70%) and absence of collateral blood flow via the circle of Willis on preoperative MR angiography, BT imaging was displayed using proton multi-voxel MR spectroscopy. The difference between BTs in the affected and contralateral hemispheres (BT_{affected hemisphere} ? BT_{contralateral hemisphere}) in the deep white matter of the centrum semiovale was calculated and defined as hemispheric ΔBT. Development of cerebral hemispheric ischemia during ICA clamping was determined from intraoperative electroencephalography (EEG).

Results Multivariate analysis revealed that high preoperative hemispheric ΔBT was significantly associated with development of EEG-defined hemispheric ischemia (95% confidence intervals [CIs], 5.376–15.452; p = 0.006). The positive-predictive value for development of EEG-defined hemispheric ischemia was significantly greater for preoperative hemispheric ΔBT following preoperative MR angiography (95%CI, 42–87%) than for preoperative MR angiography alone (95%CI, 13–37%).

Conclusions For patients without collateral flow via the circle of Willis, BT imaging increases the predictive accuracy for development of hemispheric ischemia during ICA clamping during CEA.     

Restenosis after carotid endarterectomy: significance of newly acquired risk factors

Background: In patients who had carotid endarterectomy (CEA), the significance of newly acquired cerebrovascular risk factors (CRFs) is unknown. Newly acquired CRFs are defined as CRFs not present prior to CEA (baseline CRFs) but acquired during long‐term follow‐up. Objective: We sought to determine the significance of newly acquired CRFs in CEA patients with regard to progressive ICA disease (≥50% restenosis; occurrence or progression of contralateral stenosis). Methods: In a single‐center CEA‐registry, 361 CEA patients with annual follow‐up visits for 7 years were identified. Hazard ratios (HR) were calculated for (i) any baseline CRF (hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, coronary heart disease (CHD), peripheral artery disease (PAD), smoking), (ii) any newly acquired CRF, and (iii) for the use of statins and antihypertensives. Results: No baseline CRF was associated with progressive ICA disease (unadjusted analysis). After adjustment for age and gender, smoking (HR 1.52, 95%CI 1.02–2.26), diabetes (HR 1.64, 95%CI 1.00–2.68), and hypercholesterolemia (HR 1.61, 95%CI 1.03–2.52) were weakly related to progressive ICA disease. Newly acquired hypertension (HR 2.44, 95%CI 1.57‐3.79), CHD (HR 2.73, 95%CI 1.81–4.11), diabetes (HR 2.30, 95%CI 1.39‐3.80), and PAD (HR 3.94, 95%CI 2.69–5.76) were associated with progressive ICA disease; also, after adjustment for baseline CRFs. Acquisition of at least one new CRF was related to progressive ICA disease (HR_adjusted 8.07, 95%CI 4.97–13.12). Neither statins nor antihypertensive drugs did alter the odds for progressive ICA disease. Conclusion: CRFs acquired during long‐term follow‐up after CEA may independently contribute to progressive ICA stenosis after endarterectomy. Newly acquired CRFs might be more hazardous than CRFs present prior to CEA.     

Hemodynamic significance of internal carotid artery disease

Neurologic symptoms in the region of an internal carotid artery stenosis are considered to be embolic in most instances. Only in a subgroup has carotid occlusive disease with impairment of the collateral supply, caused a state of hemodynamic failure with marked reduction of perfusion pressure. Though unproven, it is reasonable to assume that without surgical intervention, the risk is higher than average for patients with hemodynamic failure. Equally, should there be any postoperative improvement of cerebral blood flow or neurologic deficits, it should be looked for in this group. Thus, it is necessary to distinguish those with low perfusion pressure from the population of patients with carotid artery disease. Preoperative clinical evaluation and direct visualization of the carotid bifurcation should be supplemented by indirect physiological tests which allow assessment of collateral perfusion. Examination of periorbital flow direction or oculoplethysmography could be used as a screening procedure. Negative tests most certainly rule out any severe pressure gradient across the stenosis, irrespective of the luminal reduction. A positive result, on the other hand, should be further quantified since most indirect tests become positive at relatively small pressure gradients. Studies of cerebral blood flow at rest and during cerebral vasodilation makes it possible to identify patients with severe reduction of cerebral perfusion pressure. Such hemodynamic failure of one hemisphere may be identified in most cases by a conventional non-invasive xenon-133 technique and stationary detectors. Smaller focal regions of hypoperfusion may be identified by computer emission tomography, either by the detection of single-photon emission or by paired detection of annihilation photons. Endarterectomy does improve cerebral hemodynamics in terms of increased flow through the reconstructed vessel and elimination of pressure gradients. The cerebral blood flow, though remains unchanged in the majority of patients, at least when measured at baseline. Only in those patients with a reduction in perfusion pressure can a significant improvement in baseline flow occur. Flow reserve determined by cerebral vasodilation, however, will improve in most patients with hemodynamic failure. In addition, some patients in the low-pressure group develop marked, but temporary, hyperperfusion after reconstruction of very high grade carotid stenosis. This is considered a result of chronic low perfusion pressure with subsequent loss of autoregulation, and autoregulatory control is first regained after some days.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

颈内动脉狭窄相关性脑缺血病变的临床分析

目的 探讨颈内动脉狭窄致脑缺血病变的临床特点及发生机制,为临床指导治疗及判断预后提供依据.方法 回顾分析111 例经CT 血管造影(CTA)证实的颈内动脉狭窄患者的颅内Willis 环形态、TCD 资料及临床表现.结果 颈内动脉轻、中、重度狭窄组脑梗死发生率分别为14.7% 、30.6% 、46.3%,三组间差异具有显...     

脑血管危险因素对其侧支循环形成的影响

脑血管病为人类三大死亡原因之一,它给人类的生命健康带来极大的危害。脑侧支循环的形成是脑血管狭窄和阻塞的一个重要的代偿机制,对于脑血管狭窄病的预防和治疗有着重要的意义。脑血管病的危险因素（如高血压、高血脂症和糖尿病等）在脑血管狭窄患者中极为常见。在某些患者中,脑血管病的危险因素可以通过增加侧支血管的代偿保护作用而减少脑血管危险事件的发生。基于同样的原理,通过控制脑血管病危险因素药物的使用,也可以促进侧支血管的生长。本综述总结了现有实验和临床研究得出的结果来探索这个问题,发现个体脑侧支循环建立能力存在很大差异,有遗传方面的原因;高血压、高血脂、糖尿病对于侧支的增长的作用仍然存在争议;大多数证据表明,高龄不利于脑侧支循环建立;吸烟通过引起脑血管缺血缺氧来发挥作用。为了降低发病率和死亡率,需要治疗患者的主要危险因素是必要的。但是,在各种治疗方案中做选择时,我们需要考虑其对侧支血管建立的积极效应。     

Assessment of the ophthalmic artery as a collateral to the cerebral circulation A comparison of transorbital Doppler ultrasonography and regional cerebral blood flow measurements

The role of the ophthalmic artery (OA) as a collateral to the cerebral circulation in carotid occlusive disease is somewhat controversial. The aim of this study was to assess the importance of this collateral by comparing the results of transorbital Doppler ultrasonography and regional cerebral blood flow measurements using SPECT and Xenon-133 inhalation in 41 patients with unilateral high-grade internal carotid artery occlusive disease. Both measurements were performed under basal conditions and after the intravenous administration of 1 g acetazolamide to test cerebral vasoreactivity. Based on the direction of OA flow, the patients could be divided into three groups. In Group 1 (n = 16) with anterograde OA flow before and after acetazolamide, baseline rCBF values did not differ significantly between the two sides, or from those of the controls. The side-to-side assymmetry of the response to acetazolamide was also normal. In Group 2 (n= 11) where the OA flow was anterograde or "0 flow" before, but became retrograde after acetazolamide, rCBF was significantly reduced on the symptomatic compared to the non-symptomatic side under basal conditions. However, the increase in rCBF after acetazolamide was within normal limits. In Group 3 (n = 14) the OA flow was reversed both under basal conditions and after the vasodilatory stimulus. Baseline rCBF was significantly lower (p < 0.05) on the symptomatic side compared to the non-symptomatic, and the asymmetry became even greater (p < 0.001) after acetazolamide. Our findings demonstrate that the OA may be an important collateral pathway in patients with ICA occlusive disease, and contribute to the cerebral perfusion reserve in the case of compromized blood supply.     

Early treatment after a symptomatic event is not associated with an increased risk of stroke in patients undergoing carotid stenting

A recently symptomatic carotid artery stenosis carries a high risk of subsequent ischaemic events and thus requires rapid treatment. We investigated the influence of the time delay between the last symptomatic event of a carotid stenosis and subsequent carotid artery stenting (CAS) with respect to the combined 30-day outcome of stroke and death. In a group of 320 patients undergoing CAS the median delay before the intervention was 19 days (interquartile range 10–36) and the combined 30-day complication rate was 8.4%. Time delay was not significantly associated with peri-procedural complications, regardless of whether this variable was dichotomized (<14 days and ≥14 days), separated into interquartile ranges or analysed as a continuous variable. Our results indicate that early CAS is not associated with an increased complication rate in patients with a recently symptomatic carotid stenosis. Thus, if CAS has been selected as the treatment modality for a patient, it should be performed as soon as possible to maximize the benefit of the intervention in reducing the risk of stroke.     

11例颈动脉盗血综合征临床分析

目的分析11例颈动脉盗血综合征(CSS)的临床表现和影像学特点,评估其侧支循环建立与代偿方式及不同治疗方式的预后,为CSS的诊治提供依据。方法纳入2016年1月~2016年5月住院治疗的CSS患者11例。所有患者均进行颈部血管彩超、头颅CT血管造影(CTA)或磁共振血管成像(MRA)、数字剪影血管造影(DSA)等检查明确CSS诊断,进行侧支循环代偿评估。11例CSS患者中,4例患者行颈动脉内膜剥除术(CEA),5例行颈动脉内支架植入术(CAS),2例颈动脉闭塞患者药物保守治疗。对11例患者在治疗3个月、6个月和1年后进行随访,并评估缺血性脑血管事件及改良RANKIN量表评分(mRs)。结果 11例CSS患者中,单侧颈内动脉病变7例,双侧颈内动脉病变4例。临床表现为短暂性脑缺血发作7例,分水岭梗死3例,腔隙性脑梗死1例;其中后循环缺血7例,前循环缺血4例。DSA评估侧支循环建立单以一级侧支循环(11例)和二级侧支循环(4例)开放为主。ASITN评分大部分为3~4级。治疗后随访,有2例行CAS的患者出院后出现不同时期卒中样症状,4例行CEA的患者随访期内均未发生卒中。CAS和CEA术后3个月、6个月和1年的mRs评分均有不同程度改善。结论 CSS患者多发生于颈动脉狭窄严重患者,其侧支循环开放良好,以一、二级侧支循环开放为主,临床表现以后循环缺血症状多见。CAS及CEA能改善颈动脉狭窄,可能成为CSS的治疗手段。     

No evidence that severity of stroke in internal carotid occlusion is related to collateral arteries

Background/Aim

The neurological effects of internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion vary between patients. The authors investigated whether the severity of symptoms in a large group of patients with ipsilateral or/and contralateral ICA occlusion at presentation with ocular or cerebral ischaemic symptoms could be explained by patency of other extra or intracranial arteries to act as collateral pathways.

Methods

The authors prospectively identified all patients (n = 2881) with stroke, cerebral transient ischaemic attack (TIA), retinal artery occlusion (RAO), and amaurosis fugax (AFx) presenting to our hospital over five years, obtained detailed history and examination, and examined the intra and extracranial arteries with carotid and colour‐power transcranial Doppler ultrasound. For this analysis, all those with intracranial haemorrhage on brain imaging and cerebral events without brain imaging were excluded.

Results

Among 2228/2397 patients with brain imaging (1713 ischaemic strokes, 401 cerebral TIAs, 193 AFx, and 90 RAO) who underwent carotid Doppler, 195 (9%) had ICA occlusion. Among those patients with cortical events, disease in potential collateral arteries (contralateral ICA, external carotid, ipsilateral or contralateral vertebral or intracranial arteries) was equally distributed among patients with severe and mild ischaemic presenting symptoms.

Conclusion

The authors found no evidence that the clinical presentation associated with an ICA occlusion was related to patency of other extra or intracranial arteries to act as collateral pathways. Further work is required to investigate what determines the clinical effects of ICA occlusion.     

颈动脉粥样硬化斑块的稳定性与缺血性脑血管疾病危险因素的相关研究

目的探讨颈动脉粥样硬化斑块稳定性与缺血性脑血管病危险因素的相关性。方法选取2010年10月-2010年12月在广州军区武汉总医院住院的缺血性脑血管病患者203例为研究对象,应用颈动脉彩色多普勒超声技术检查颈动脉粥样硬化斑块的大小、数目及性质,并评估研究对象脑梗死危险因素,行Logistic回归分析。结果脑梗死危险因素包括性别、年龄、吸烟、高血压、糖尿病、冠心病与高血压性心脏病、低密度脂蛋白、脂蛋白(a)、纤维蛋白原、超敏C反应蛋白及高同型半胱氨酸,均与颈动脉粥样硬化不稳定斑块的形成相关(P<0.05)。并且年龄、糖尿病、冠心病与高血压性心脏病、低密度脂蛋白、纤维蛋白原、同型半胱氨酸等脑梗死危险因素可纳入Logistic回归方程,为颈动脉粥样硬化不稳定斑块形成的独立危险因素。结论年龄、糖尿病、冠心病与高血压性心脏病、低密度脂蛋白、纤维蛋白原、高同型半胱氨酸等缺血性脑血管疾病危险因素是导致颈动脉粥样硬化不稳定斑块形成的独立危险因素。