Study of the involved vascular territories in patients with ischemic stroke in Kerman, Iran

BACKGROUND: The races show different cerebrovascular involvements, for example, the involvement of intracranial arteries are higher among Asians than Caucasians. The aim of this study was to investigate the cerebrovascular stenosis pattern by computed tomography angiography (CTA), which is unprecedented in Iran. METHODS: In this study, patients with brain stroke (thrombosis), confirmed by CT scanning and cardiac assessments, who referred to Shafa Hospital in Kerman, Iran, underwent brain and cervical arteries CT angiography to assess involved cerebrovascular territories and also its risk factors from June ۲۰۱۲ to June ۲۰۱۳. RESULTS: We did CTA for ۱۰۰ patients. Eighty-four cases had cerebral artery stenosis. Intracranial vessel involvement alone was observed in ۴۷.۶% of patients, simultaneous intracranial and extracranial artery stenosis in ۲۶.۲%, and extracranial artery stenosis in ۲۶.۲%. Posterior cerebral artery territory showed the highest degree of vascular stenosis. Posterior cerebral artery stenosis alone was observed in  ۵۱.۳% of the cases; ۲۷.۴% of the cases suffered from anterior artery stenosis, and ۲۱.۶% had simultaneous anterior and posterior cerebral artery stenosis. Smokers showed higher extracranial artery involvement compared to non-smokers; ۴۴% of smokers and ۱۴% of non-smokers had extracranial vertebral involvement CONCLUSION: Our findings showed that intracranial artery involvement was the most prevalent finding in patients with thrombotic stroke in Kerman. Also posterior cerebral artery stenosis was more prevalent than anterior artery stenosis. Hypertension was the most common risk factor. Furthermore, smoking was considered as an important risk factor for extracranial artery stenosis, especially in the posterior cerebral artery.

Keywords:

Thrombosis , Stroke , Computed Tomography , Angiography , Risk Factors