Low Ankle-Brachial Index is a Simple Physical Exam Sign Predicting Intracranial Atherosclerotic Stenosis in Ischemic Stroke Patients.

BACKGROUND: The investigation of ischemic stroke etiology is commonly limited to the heart and extracranial vessels. Nevertheless, the diagnosis of intracranial stenosis may carry important therapeutic implications. The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence and clinical predictors of intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS) in a sample of patients with ischemic stroke. METHODS: Consecutive patients admitted to a university-based outpatient stroke clinic underwent CT angiography of the intracranial and extracranial brain vessels. Clinical, demographic, and laboratory characteristics were compared between patients with increasing levels of stenosis. Ankle-brachial index (ABI) was measured to quantify peripheral arterial disease, defined as an ABI less than or equal to .9. Multivariable ordinal logistic regression was constructed to predict increasing stenosis grades (none, 1%-49%-mild, 50%-69%-moderate, 70%-100%-severe). RESULTS: We studied 106 subjects, mean age 62 ± 15 years, 54% female. ICAS was present in 38 (36%) patients: 19 (50%) mild, 7 (18%) moderate, and 12 (32%) severe. Of 74 patients where ABI was measured, low ABI was found more frequently with increasing ICAS severity (26%, 42%, 67%, and 89% of patients with none, mild, moderate, and severe ICAS, respectively). In univariable analysis, higher age, presence of diabetes, abdominal obesity, and low ABI correlated with increasing stenosis grades. In multivariable analysis, only low ABI remained independently associated with increasing stenosis grades. CONCLUSIONS: The ABI is independently associated with increasing severity of ICAS, making it a potentially useful triaging tool for more invasive test selection.

Past smoking and current dopamine agonist use show an independent and dose-dependent association with impulse control disorders in Parkinson's disease.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have described the association between dopamine replacement therapy in Parkinson's disease and impulse control disorders. METHODS: A case-control study was performed to establish the prevalence of four of these behaviors in Brazilian patients with Parkinson's disease on stable dopamine replacement therapy and the possible associated risk factors. We investigated 152 patients and 212 healthy controls for pathological gambling, compulsive sexual behavior and compulsive buying and eating. RESULTS: Overall, patients had more impulsive control disorders than controls (18.4% vs. 4.2%, P < 0.001). Impulse control disorders were more common in younger patients (P = 0.008) and in those taking dopamine agonist (P < 0.001) and levodopa (P = 0.02). Higher Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale motor score (P = 0.03) and past smoking (P = 0.02) were also associated in the univariate analysis. Variables independently associated with impulse control disorders were history of smoking (odds ratio = 1.059 for each year of smoking, P = 0.010) and current use of pramipexole (odds ratio = 2.551 for each increase in 1 mg, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Dopaminergic stimulation and previous exposure to smoking are independently associated with impulse control disorders in a dose-dependent manner.