Early cerebral ischemic lesions ly after stenting for symptomatic intracranial artery stenosis: a clinical study / 介入放射学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To analyze the clinical manifestations of early cerebral ischemic lesions after stenting with WingSpan system for symptomatic intracranial artery stenosis, and to evaluate the early effects and safety of the stenting therapy. Methods Twenty-nine consecutive patients with symptomatic intracranial stenosis underwent diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) before and after stenting (within 72 hours). The clinical data, including patients' general condition, stenting procedures and newly-developed cerebral ischemic lesions, were recorded. Neurological defect was estimated with NIHSS, the safety and early outcome of stenting were evaluated. Results The degree of stenosis was reduced from a mean baseline of (72.3 ± 10.7)% to (31.9 ± 13.6)% immediately after stenting. The technical success rate was 100%. The total eomplicatiom nate was 17.2%. And among them, z were symptomatic (6.9%). Sixty-three ischemic lesions were demonstrated on DWI in 13 patients (44.8%). Among them, 11 (84.6%) were asymptomatic. Fifty-five newly-developed lesions on DWI (87.3%) were located in the region of stented vessels and 3.2% were situated in the region of branch vessels of stented artery. Conclusion DWI is of great value in assessing the safety of intracranial stenting procedures. The treatment of symptomatic intracranial artery stenosis by using WingSpan system is safe and effective. Newly-developed ischemic lesions can be well detected on DWI and should receive physician's attention, although most ischemic lesions are asymptomatic. Long-term outcome of this treatment needs to be further observed.