RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Prevalence of Intracranial Atherosclerotic Disease in Patients with Low-Risk Transient or Persistent Neurologic Events
JF American Journal of Neuroradiology
JO Am. J. Neuroradiol.
FD American Society of Neuroradiology
DO 10.3174/ajnr.A7429
A1 Bala, F.
A1 Singh, N.
A1 Moreau, F.
A1 Field, T.S.
A1 Goyal, M.
A1 Hill, M.D.
A1 Coutts, S.B.
A1 Almekhlafi, M.
YR 2022
UL http://www.ajnr.org/content/early/2022/02/17/ajnr.A7429.abstract
AB BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: There are limited data on the prevalence and outcome of intracranial atherosclerotic disease in patients with low-risk transient or persistent minor neurologic events. We sought to determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with intracranial atherosclerotic disease in patients with low-risk transient or persistent neurologic events.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Participants with available intracranial vascular imaging from the Diagnosis of Uncertain-Origin Benign Transient Neurologic Symptoms (DOUBT) study, a large prospective multicenter cohort study, were included in this post hoc analysis. The prevalence of intracranial atherosclerotic disease of ≥50% was determined, and the association with baseline characteristics and DWI lesions was evaluated using logistic regression.RESULTS: We included 661 patients with a median age of 62 years (interquartile range, 53–70 years), of whom 53% were women. Intracranial atherosclerotic disease was found in 81 (12.3%) patients; asymptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic disease alone, in 65 (9.8%); and symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic disease, in 16 (2.4%). The most frequent location was in the posterior cerebral artery (29%). Age was the only factor associated with any intracranial atherosclerotic disease (adjusted OR, 1.9 for 10 years increase; 95% CI, 1.6–2.5). Multivariable logistic regression showed a strong association between intracranial atherosclerotic disease and the presence of acute infarct on MR imaging (adjusted OR, 3.47; 95% CI, 1.91–6.25).CONCLUSIONS: Intracranial atherosclerotic disease is not rare in patients with transient or persistent minor neurologic events and is independently associated with the presence of MR imaging–proved ischemia in this context. Evaluation of the intracranial arteries could be valuable in establishing the etiology of such low-risk events.ICADintracranial atherosclerotic disease