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Coexisting large and small vessel disease in patients with ischemic stroke of undetermined cause

A Chatzikonstantinou1, R Krissak, A Schaefer

  • 1Department of Neurology, UniversitätsMedizin Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany. anastasios.chatzikonstantinou@umm.de

European Neurology
|August 22, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Small vessel disease (SVD) and large artery atherosclerosis (LAA) frequently coexist in stroke patients with aortic plaques. This highlights the link between macro- and microvascular disease, especially with significant atherosclerosis risk factors.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Radiology

Background:

  • Large artery atherosclerosis (LAA) and small vessel disease (SVD) are common contributors to stroke.
  • These conditions share underlying risk factors, suggesting a potential link.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between SVD and cerebral LAA.
  • To examine the relationship between SVD and aortic atherosclerosis in stroke patients.

Main Methods:

  • A study of 71 ischemic stroke patients with undetermined cause.
  • ECG-triggered CT angiography was used for atherosclerotic plaque detection in the aorta.

Main Results:

  • Aortic atherosclerotic plaques were found in 76.1% of patients.
  • SVD presence significantly correlated with aortic plaques (p < 0.001) and LAA (p < 0.001).
  • SVD also correlated with hypertension (p = 0.032) and diabetes mellitus (p = 0.017).

Conclusions:

  • Aortic plaques are prevalent in stroke patients of undetermined origin.
  • SVD and LAA often coexist, indicating a link between micro- and macroangiopathy.
  • This association is particularly evident in patients with severe atherosclerosis risk factors.
Abstract

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