Abstract:
Objective Using three-dimensional high-resolution vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging (3D HR-VW-MRI), we analyzed the characteristics of intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD) plaques within the circle of Willis, in order to investigate the relationship of ICAD with recurrent acute stroke.
Methods A total of 119 patients with ischemic stroke caused by ICAD were retrospectively enrolled and divided into two groups: the first-ever acute stroke group (n=68) and the recurrent acute stroke group (n=51). All the patients underwent 3D HR-VW-MRI. The total number of intracranial plaques and the characteristics of the culprit plaques (including area, volume, intraplaque hemorrhage (IPH), plaque burden, and stenosis degree) were assessed. Logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic curve analyses were performed to identify the independent risk factors for stroke recurrence.
Results Compared with the first-ever stroke group, patients in the recurrent stroke group had significantly higher scores based on the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) (P < 0.001) and a higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus (P=0.016) and coronary artery disease (P=0.045). The recurrent stroke group exhibited a significantly greater total number of intracranial plaques (P < 0.001), larger culprit plaque volume (P=0.008), higher prevalence of IPH (P < 0.001), and higher plaque burden (P=0.028). The results of the multivariate analysis (independent risk factors for recurrence) were as follows: total plaque number (odds ratio OR=1.40, 95% confidence interval CI 1.20–1.70, P=0.001); plaque volume (OR=1.80, 95% CI 1.10–3.00, P=0.020); and presence of IPH (OR=3.20, 95% CI 1.50–6.80, P < 0.001). The predictive performance of the analysis was measured by the area under the curve (AUC): total plaque number, AUC=0.809, (95% CI 0.731–0.888); presence of IPH, AUC=0.690, (95% CI 0.590–0.790); and plaque volume, AUC=0.863, (95% CI 0.795–0.931).
Conclusion In patients with ICAD, an increased total number of intracranial plaques, larger culprit plaque volume, and the presence of intraplaque hemorrhage were found to be independent risk factors for recurrent stroke. These plaque characteristics serve as valuable imaging markers for predicting and stratifying the risk of stroke recurrence.