Correlation of intracranial atherosclerosis with carotid stenosis in ischemic stroke patients

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Carotid stenosis is a major risk factor for ischemic stroke. However, the effect of carotid stenosis on the site of stroke is still under investigation. AIMS: This study aimed to elucidate how the presence of carotid stenosis influenced the pattern of stroke and also how it interacted with other risk factors for stroke. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-eight patients with ischemic stroke were included in this study and were investigated with carotid artery Doppler and magnetic resonance angiography for carotid stenosis and intracranial stenosis in the circle of Willis, respectively. Other known risk factors of stroke were also studied in and compared between the subgroups with and without carotid stenosis. RESULTS: In patients without carotid stenosis, anterior cerebral artery was the commonest site of stenosis. In patients with carotid stenosis, middle cerebral artery was the commonest site of stenosis. Overall, middle cerebral artery was the commonest territory of stroke. Patients with hypertension, diabetes and history of smoking had preferential stenosis of the anterior cerebral artery.