Prevalence and prognosis of intracranial stenosis in acute ischemic stroke; a single center registry from Turkey

Background/aim: Intracranial stenosis (ICS) is identified in 2.2%?70.4% of patients with ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attack. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of ICS in a single center registry from Turkey. Materials and methods: We reviewed the charts of 619 patients with acute ischemic stroke. ICS was defined as any ICS > 50% on cerebrovascular imaging. The demographic data, risk factors, NIHSS scores and C reactive protein level at admission, mortality in hospital, recurrent stroke, and mRS in the follow-up period were recorded. Results: A total of 72 (11.6%) patients with ICS (45 males (62.5%); mean age 68.3 ± 12.6 years) were included. Sixty-seven patients (10.8%) had symptomatic ICS and 44 patients (7.1%) had ICS without extracranial stenosis. Diabetes mellitus (DM) was significantly higher in the ICS group compared to the others (P = 0.017). Disability was significantly better in patients with ICS compared to the others (P < 0.001). On logistic regression analysis, DM and follow up mRS were significantly associated with ICS (P < 0.05). Conclusion: ICS was seen in 11.6% of acute ischemic stroke cases in our registry. DM appears to be the major risk factor for ICS. Disability was better in patients with ICS. Ethnicity could be a factor causing better disability.