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Vertebrobasilar Flow Evaluation and Risk of Transient Ischaemic Attack and Stroke study (VERiTAS): rationale and

Sepideh Amin-Hanjani1, Linda Rose-Finnell, DeJuran Richardson

  • 1Department of Neurosurgery, Neuropsychiatric Institute, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612-5970, USA. hanjani@uic.edu

International Journal of Stroke : Official Journal of the International Stroke Society
|November 6, 2010
PubMed

Insights

The VERiTAS study investigates stroke risk in patients with vertebrobasilar disease. Compromised blood flow, measured by quantitative magnetic resonance angiography, may predict higher stroke risk in the posterior circulation.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Vascular Medicine
  • Medical Imaging

Background:

  • Posterior circulation strokes account for over one-third of ischemic strokes, often caused by atherosclerotic vertebrobasilar disease.
  • Symptomatic vertebrobasilar disease presents a significant annual recurrent stroke risk (10-15%).
  • Endovascular treatments are increasingly utilized, but their benefits and risks in this population require further validation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To test the hypothesis that compromised blood flow, assessed via quantitative magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), is associated with increased stroke risk in patients with symptomatic vertebrobasilar stenosis or occlusion.
  • To identify predictors of stroke in the posterior circulation to better select patients for future interventional trials.

Main Methods:

  • The Vertebrobasilar Flow Evaluation and Risk of Transient Ischaemic Attack and Stroke (VERiTAS) is a prospective, multicenter, NIH-funded observational study.
  • Recruitment of 80 patients with symptomatic vertebrobasilar stenosis (≥50%) or occlusion across six North American sites over 4 years.
  • Hemodynamic assessment using blinded quantitative MRA at baseline, with follow-up imaging at 6, 12, and 24 months. Patients are followed for 12-24 months for the primary endpoint of stroke in the vertebrobasilar territory.

Main Results:

  • This section is not applicable as the abstract describes a study design and not its results.

Conclusions:

  • The VERiTAS study is the first prospective investigation into hemodynamics and stroke risk within the posterior circulation.
  • Study findings may refine selection criteria for endovascular interventions.
  • Results could help identify a low-risk patient group, potentially avoiding unnecessary invasive procedures.
Abstract

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