Predictors of Recurrent Stroke in Patients With Symptomatic Intracranial Arterial Stenosis

Stroke.ahajournals.org: August 21, 2012

Our goal was to investigate whether initial ischemic lesion pattern can predict stroke recurrence in patients with symptomatic intracranial arterial stenosis.

Methods—Of the Trial of Cilostazol in Symptomatic Intracranial Arterial Stenosis (TOSS)-2 trial participants, we included patients who underwent diffusion-weighted imaging and fluid attenuation inversion recovery imaging at baseline with a follow-up fluid attenuation inversion recovery imaging at 7 months. Based on the diffusion-weighted imaging findings, we classified the initial ischemic lesion patterns according to location (subcortical versus cortical versus subcorticocortical) and multiplicity (single versus multiple). We also evaluated the occurrence of new ischemic lesions on follow-up fluid attenuation inversion recovery as well as clinical stroke in the symptomatic intracranial arterial stenosis territory. Read more