South Asian patients with ischemic stroke: intracranial large arteries are the predominant site of disease.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE South Asians are the most prevalent ethnic group in the world. Intracranial disease is the most common vascular lesion worldwide. METHODS We prospectively studied 200 consecutive ethnic South Asian patients with acute ischemic stroke in Singapore. RESULTS Intracranial large-artery disease was prevalent among 54% of all stroke subtypes and was independently associated with hypertension and higher serum erythrocyte sedimentation rate. CONCLUSIONS Among ethnic South Asian patients with ischemic stroke, intracranial large arteries are the predominant site of disease.