Natural History of Intracranial Atherosclerotic Disease

Natural History of Intracranial Atherosclerotic Disease

Intracranial atherosclerotic disease was very common among stroke patients of Asians, Blacks, and Hispanics ancestry. Furthermore, stroke patients with intracranial atherosclerosis (ICAS) have higher recurrence rate of cerebral ischemia and death than those without ICAS. However, the natural history of intracranial atherosclerotic disease is still in controversy. Most of the studies were retros...

Intracranial Atherosclerotic Disease

Intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD) is the most common proximate mechanism of ischemic stroke worldwide. Approximately half of those affected are Asians. For diagnosis of ICAD, intra-arterial angiography is the gold standard to identify extent of stenosis. However, noninvasive techniques including transcranial ultrasound and MRA are now emerging as reliable modalities to exclude moderat...

Neuroimaging of Intracranial Atherosclerotic Disease

Endovascular Treatment of Symptomatic Intracranial Atherosclerotic Disease

Symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD) is responsible for approximately 10% of all ischemic strokes in the United States. The risk of recurrent stroke may be as high as 35% in patient with critical stenosis >70% in diameter narrowing. Recent advances in medical and endovascular therapy have placed ICAD at the forefront of clinical stroke research to optimize the best medical an...

Management of symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic disease.

Recently completed prospective studies have shown that with an incidence of recurrent stroke of approximately 10% per year, significant mortality, and other vascular comorbidities, symptomatic intracranial stenosis is a marker of aggressive vascular disease. Although strict control of atherosclerotic risk factors and antithrombotic therapy preferably with antiplatelet agents should be the mains...