Study of the involved vascular territories in patients with ischemic stroke in Kerman, Iran

BACKGROUND The races show different cerebrovascular involvements, for example, the involvement of intracranial arteries are higher among Asians than Caucasians. The aim of this study was to investigate the cerebrovascular stenosis pattern by computed tomography angiography (CTA), which is unprecedented in Iran. METHODS In this study, patients with brain stroke (thrombosis), confirmed by CT scanning and cardiac assessments, who referred to Shafa Hospital in Kerman, Iran, underwent brain and cervical arteries CT angiography to assess involved cerebrovascular territories and also its risk factors from June 2012 to June 2013. RESULTS We did CTA for 100 patients. Eighty-four cases had cerebral artery stenosis. Intracranial vessel involvement alone was observed in 47.6% of patients, simultaneous intracranial and extracranial artery stenosis in 26.2%, and extracranial artery stenosis in 26.2%. Posterior cerebral artery territory showed the highest degree of vascular stenosis. Posterior cerebral artery stenosis alone was observed in 51.3% of the cases; 27.4% of the cases suffered from anterior artery stenosis, and 21.6% had simultaneous anterior and posterior cerebral artery stenosis. Smokers showed higher extracranial artery involvement compared to non-smokers; 44% of smokers and 14% of non-smokers had extracranial vertebral involvement. CONCLUSION Our findings showed that intracranial artery involvement was the most prevalent finding in patients with thrombotic stroke in Kerman. Also posterior cerebral artery stenosis was more prevalent than anterior artery stenosis. Hypertension was the most common risk factor. Furthermore, smoking was considered as an important risk factor for extracranial artery stenosis, especially in the posterior cerebral artery.