Peri-procedural stroke or death in stenting of symptomatic severe intracranial stenosis

Plaque features of the middle cerebral artery are associated with periprocedural complications of intracranial angioplasty and stenting

PURPOSE

The identification of plaque features in the middle cerebral artery (MCA) may help minimize periprocedural complications and select patients suitable for percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting (PTAS). However, relevant research is lacking.

METHODS

We retrospectively included patients with symptomatic MCA stenosis who received PTAS. All patients underwent intracranial vessel wall MRI (VWMRI) before surgery. Periprocedural complications (PC) included ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke within 30 days. Stenosis location, MCA shape, plaque eccentricity and distribution, plaque thickness and length, and enhancement ratio were compared between patients with and without PC.

RESULTS

Sixty-six patients were included in the study, of which 12.1% (8/66) had PC. Of the eight patients with PC, seven (87.5%) had superior wall plaques. In the non-PC group (n = 58), nine (17%) patients had superior wall plaques. Compared with patients without PC, those with PC had more frequent superior wall plaques (17% vs 87.5%, p < 0.001) and s-shaped MCAs (19% vs 50%, p = 0.071), different stenosis locations (p = 0.012), thicker plaques (1.58 [1.35, 2.00] vs 1.98 [1.73, 2.43], p = 0.038), and less frequent inferior wall plaques (79.2% vs 12.5%, p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that only the presence of superior wall plaques (OR = 41.54 [2.31, 747.54]) was independently associated with PC.

CONCLUSION

MCA plaque features were highly correlated with PC in patients with symptomatic MCA stenosis who underwent PTAS.

Safety and efficacy of stenting for symptomatic intracranial artery stenosis: a systematic reveiw and meta-analysis

Background: Stroke is currently the second-leading cause of death just behind ischaemic heart disease. Drug therapy is currently the standard of care for patients with symptomatic intracranial artery stenosis (sICAS). Stenting is an important treatment for the prevention and treatment of ischemic stroke. It has been suggested that vertebral artery stenting might reduce this risk, but operation-related complications limit the application of stenting in the treatment of ischemic stroke. The differences in the safety and efficacy of stenting combined with drugs and drugs alone in the treatment of sICAS are unclear. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of both treatment modalities on the prognosis of patients with sICAS through a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: The Chinese databases (CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, CBM, DUXIU) and English databases (Pubmed, Embase, Ovid_medline, Cochrane library, Web of science)were searched to identify all studies describing sICAS. The "Risk of Bias Assessment" tool and the "Jadad Scale" provided by the Cochrane Collaboration were used to evaluate the risk of bias and quality of the collected literature. The risk ratio (RR) and its 95% confidence interval (CI) were determined using Stata statistical software version 14.0. Results: A total of 11 studies were included, comprising a total of 1,915 patients. The combined results of the study showed no significant difference between the incidence of transient cerebral ischemia (TIA)and stroke in patients with sICAS treated with drugs in combination with stents versus drugs alone. The incidence of death or stroke, cerebral haemorrhage, disabling stroke or death was significantly higher in patients receiving stent-combined drug therapy versus drug therapy alone for sICAS. Conclusion: Studies suggest that stenting combined with medication for patients with sICAS may increase the incidence of death or stroke, cerebral haemorrhage, stroke or death, but has no significant effect on the incidence of TIA and stroke. The studies report inadequate and conflicting data and therefore the safety and efficacy of stenting for sICAS should be interpreted with caution. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42022377090, identifier CRD42022377090.

Thirty-Day Outcomes of Resolute Onyx Stent for Symptomatic Intracranial Stenosis: A Multicenter Propensity Score-Matched Comparison With Stenting Versus Aggressive Medical Management for Preventing Recurrent Stroke in Intracranial Stenosis Trial

BACKGROUND

Symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic disease (sICAD) is estimated to cause 10% of strokes annually in the United States. However, treatment remains a challenge with several different stenting options studied in the past with unfavorable results.

OBJECTIVE

To report the 30-day stroke and/or death rate associated with intracranial stent placement for sICAD using Resolute Onyx Zotarolimus-Eluting Stent (RO-ZES) and provide a comparison with the results of Stenting Versus Aggressive Medical Management for Preventing Recurrent Stroke in Intracranial Stenosis (SAMMPRIS) trial.

METHODS

Prospectively maintained databases across 8 stroke centers were used to identify adult patients treated with RO-ZES for sICAD between January 2019 and December 2021. Primary end point was composite of 30-day stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, and/or death. Propensity score matching was performed using age, hypertension, lipid disorder, cigarette smoking, and symptomatic target vessel to create a matched group for comparison between RO-ZES and the SAMMPRIS medical management and treatment groups (SAMMPRIS percutaneous angioplasty and stenting [S-PTAS]).

RESULTS

A total of 132 patients met the inclusion criteria for analysis (mean age: 64.2 years). Mean severity of stenosis was 81.4% (±11.4%). A total of 4 (3.03%) stroke and/or deaths were reported within 30 days of treatment in the RO-ZES group compared with 6.6% in the SAMMPRIS medical management group (OR [odds ratio] 2.26, 95% CI 0.7-9.56, P = .22) and 15.6% in the S-PTAS group (OR 5.9, 95% CI 2.04-23.4, P < .001). Propensity score match analysis of 115 patients in each group demonstrated 30-day stroke and/or death rate of 2.6% in the RO-ZES group and 15.6% in the S-PTAS group (OR 6.88, 95% CI 1.92-37.54, P < .001).

CONCLUSION

Patients treated with RO-ZES had a relatively low 30-day stroke and/or death rate compared with the S-PTAS group. Further large-scale prospective studies are warranted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of RO-ZES for the treatment of sICAD.

Large Vessel Occlusion Stroke due to Intracranial Atherosclerotic Disease: Identification, Medical and Interventional Treatment, and Outcomes

Large vessel occlusion stroke due to underlying intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD-LVO) is prevalent in 10 to 30% of LVOs depending on patient factors such as vascular risk factors, race and ethnicity, and age. Patients with ICAD-LVO derive similar functional outcome benefit from endovascular thrombectomy as other mechanisms of LVO, but up to half of ICAD-LVO patients reocclude after revascularization. Therefore, early identification and treatment planning for ICAD-LVO are important given the unique considerations before, during, and after endovascular thrombectomy. In this review of ICAD-LVO, we propose a multistep approach to ICAD-LVO identification, pretreatment and endovascular thrombectomy considerations, adjunctive medications, and medical management. There have been no large-scale randomized controlled trials dedicated to studying ICAD-LVO, therefore this review focuses on observational studies.

A non-linear relationship between lesion length and risk of recurrent cerebral ischemia after stenting for symptomatic intracranial stenosis with hemodynamic impairment

Background

Stent placement can be an effective treatment for patients with symptomatic intracranial stenosis (sICAS) and hemodynamic impairment (HI). However, the association between lesion length and the risk of recurrent cerebral ischemia (RCI) after stenting remains controversial. Exploring this association can help predict patients at higher risk for RCI and develop individualized follow-up schedules.

Method

In this study, we provided a post-hoc analysis of a prospective, multicenter registry study on stenting for sICAS with HI in China. Demographics, vascular risk factors, clinical variables, lesions, and procedure-specific variables were recorded. RCI includes ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA), from month 1 after stenting to the end of the follow-up period. Smoothing curve fitting and segmented Cox regression analysis were used to analyze the threshold effect between lesion length and RCI in the overall group and subgroups of the stent type.

Results

The non-linear relationship between lesion length and RCI was observed in the overall population and subgroups; however, the non-linear relationship differed by subgroup of stent type. In the balloon-expandable stent (BES) subgroup, the risk of RCI increased 2.17-fold and 3.17-fold for each 1-mm increase in the lesion length when the lesion length was <7.70 mm and >9.00 mm, respectively. In the self-expanding stent (SES) subgroup, the risk of RCI increased 1.83-fold for each 1-mm increase in the lesion length when the length was <9.00 mm. Nevertheless, the risk of RCI did not increase with the length when the lesion length was >9.00mm.

Conclusion

A non-linear relationship exists between lesion length and RCI after stenting for sICAS with HI. The lesion length increases the overall risk of RCI for BES and for SES when the length was <9.00 mm, while no significant relationship was found when the length was >9.00 mm for SES.

Factors Influencing the Outcome of Symptomatic Intracranial Artery Stenosis With Hemodynamic Impairment After Short and Long-Term Stent Placement

Objective

Stent placement is a feasible approach worldwidely for patients with symptomatic intracranial artery stenosis (sICAS) and hemodynamic impairment (HI) who are at high risk of recurrent stroke after medical treatment. Exploration of factors associated with poor outcomes after stent placement could help develop better individualized therapeutic strategies.

Methods

This study conducted a post-hoc analysis of a prospective, multicenter registry study of stent use for sICAS with HI in China. Patient and clinical demographics, and stenotic lesion images were analyzed using univariate and multivariate Cox regression to the time until any endpoints or the end of the follow-up period. The short-term endpoint included any transient ischemic attack (TIA), stroke, or death within 1 month after stent placement. The long-term endpoints included the short-term endpoints and any TIA or stroke in the region of the affected artery that occurred more than 1 month after stent placement.

Results

Two hundred and ninety two patients were included, with 13 short-term and 39 long-term endpoints. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that lesions at the arterial origin or bifurcation (Hazard Ratio (HR) = 7.52; 95% CI, 1.89-29.82; p = 0.004) were significantly associated with higher short-term risk. Baseline renal insufficiency reduced the risk (HR = 0.08; 95% CI: 0.01-0.68; p = 0.021). Factors significantly associated with higher long-term risk included irregular or ulcerated plaques at the lesion (HR = 2.15; 95% CI: 1.07-4.33; p = 0.031). Subgroup analyses indicated that higher risk occurred in the older age group (age>59 years, HR = 3.73, 95% CI: 1.27-10.97, p = 0.017), and not in the younger group (age≤59 years, HR = 1.12, 95% CI: 0.42-3.03, p = 0.822).

Conclusion

Irregular or ulcerated plaques in older patients and lesions at the arterial opening or bifurcation were more likely to result in adverse endpoints for stent placement during long or short -term follow-up. Investigation of these factors might facilitate the development of individualized therapeutic strategies for this population.

Clinical Trial Registration

http://www.clinicaltrials.gov, identifier: NCT01968122.

Endovascular Treatment of Large Vessel Occlusion Strokes Due to Intracranial Atherosclerotic Disease

Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) has become the gold-standard for patients with acute large vessel occlusion strokes (LVOS). MT is highly effective in the treatment of embolic occlusions; however, underlying intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD) represents a therapeutic challenge, often requiring pharmacological and/or mechanical rescue treatment. Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors have been suggested as the best initial approach, if reperfusion can be achieved after thrombectomy, with angioplasty and/or stenting being reserved for the more refractory cases. In this review, we focus on the therapeutic considerations surrounding the endovascular treatment of ICAD-related acute LVOS.

Intracranial Angioplasty with Enterprise Stent for Intracranial Atherosclerotic Stenosis: A Single-Center Experience and a Systematic Review

Background

The high rate of periprocedural complications for the endovascular stent procedure in the Stenting Versus Aggressive Medical Management Therapy for Intracranial Arterial Stenosis (SAMMPRIS) trial resulted in it being less recommended than medical therapy to treat intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS). Because Enterprise stent use might reduce the incidence of complications in ICAS treatment compared to other frequently used stents, this paper evaluated the safety and effectiveness of the Enterprise stent for the treatment of ICAS.

Methods

We performed a comprehensive literature search for reports on intracranial angioplasty using the Enterprise stent for ICAS treatment from the earliest date available from each database to May 2020 for PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane, and Clinical Trials databases. We also reviewed the single-center experience of the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University. We extracted information regarding periprocedural complications, procedure-related morbidity, mortality, immediate angiographic outcome, and long-term clinical and angiographic outcomes, among others. Event rates were pooled across studies using random-effects or fixed-effects models depending on the heterogeneity.

Results

Five hundred fifty-seven patients with 588 lesions from seven studies, including the institutional series, were included in the analysis. The incidence of stroke or death within 30 days was 7.4% (95% confidence interval (CI), 5.5%-10.1%). The incidence of ischemic stroke or TIA in the territory of the qualifying artery beyond 30 days and during follow-up was 3.2% (95% CI, 1.1%-9.5%). The incidence of in-stent restenosis was 10.1% (95% CI, 4.6%-22.2%), and the incidence of symptomatic restenosis was 4.1% (95% CI, 1.7%-9.9%).

Conclusions

Intracranial angioplasty utilizing the Enterprise stent for ICAS treatment was relatively safe and effective but required further verification using additional sources for evidence.