Wu G, Wang H, Zhao C, Cao C, Chai C, Huang L, Guo Y, Gong Z, Tirschwell D, Zhu C, Xia S. Large Culprit Plaque and More Intracranial Plaques Are Associated with Recurrent Stroke: A Case-Control Study Using Vessel Wall Imaging.
AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2022;
43:207-215. [PMID:
35058299 PMCID:
PMC8985671 DOI:
10.3174/ajnr.a7402]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Intracranial atherosclerotic plaque features are potential factors associated with recurrent stroke, but previous studies only focused on a single lesion, and few studies investigated them with perfusion impairment. This study aimed to investigate the association among whole-brain plaque features, perfusion deficit, and stroke recurrence.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Patients with ischemic stroke due to intracranial atherosclerosis were retrospectively collected and categorized into first-time and recurrent-stroke groups. Patients underwent high-resolution vessel wall imaging and DSC-PWI. Intracranial plaque number, culprit plaque features (such as plaque volume/burden, degree of stenosis, enhancement ratio), and perfusion deficit variables were recorded. Logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the independent factors associated with recurrent stroke.
RESULTS
One hundred seventy-five patients (mean age, 59 [SD, 12] years; 115 men) were included. Compared with the first-time stroke group (n = 100), the recurrent-stroke group (n = 75) had a larger culprit volume (P = .006) and showed more intracranial plaques (P < .001) and more enhanced plaques (P = .003). After we adjusted for other factors, culprit plaque volume (OR, 1.16 per 10-mm3 increase; 95% CI, 1.03-1.30; P = .015) and total plaque number (OR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.13-1.52; P < .001) were independently associated with recurrent stroke. Combining these factors increased the area under the curve to 0.71.
CONCLUSIONS
Large culprit plaque and more intracranial plaques were independently associated with recurrent stroke. Performing whole-brain vessel wall imaging may help identify patients with a higher risk of recurrent stroke.
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