Imagine a highway with a bad traffic jam caused by a roadblock. Just like that, when your brain’s blood vessels get blocked due to sICAS, it can lead to a stroke. In this study, researchers investigated the effectiveness of angioplasty and stenting versus aggressive medical management in preventing recurrent strokes in patients with sICAS. They collected data from patients who received either angioplasty/stenting or aggressive medical therapy and followed them up for one year. By using a statistical method called propensity score matching, they made sure the two groups were comparable. The results revealed that there was no significant difference in the risk of stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) between the two groups, except for within the first 30 days after treatment. Additionally, there were no significant differences in other important outcomes such as disabling stroke, death, and intracranial hemorrhage within the one-year follow-up period. These findings suggest that angioplasty and stenting have similar treatment outcomes to aggressive medical therapy in patients with sICAS. If you want to delve into the nitty-gritty of this study, check out the full article!
BackgroundSymptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (sICAS) is one of the common causes of ischemic stroke. However, the treatment of sICAS remains a challenge in the past with unfavorable findings. The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of stenting versus aggressive medical management on preventing recurrent stroke in patients with sICAS.MethodsWe prospectively collected the clinical information of patients with sICAS who underwent percutaneous angioplasty and/or stenting (PTAS) or aggressive medical therapy from March 2020 to February 2022. Propensity score matching (PSM) was employed to ensure well-balanced characteristics of two groups. The primary outcome endpoint was defined as recurrent stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) within 1 year.ResultsWe enrolled 207 patients (51 in the PTAS and 156 in the aggressive medical groups) with sICAS. No significant difference was found between PTAS group and aggressive medical group for the risk of stroke or TIA in the same territory beyond 30 days through 6 months (P = 0.570) and beyond 30 days through 1 year (P = 0.739) except for within 30 days (P = 0.003). Furthermore, none showed a significant difference for disabling stroke, death and intracranial hemorrhage within 1 year. These results remain stable after adjustment. After PSM, all the outcomes have no significant difference between these two groups.ConclusionThe PTAS has similar treatment outcomes compared with aggressive medical therapy in patients with sICAS across 1-year follow-up.
Dr. David Lowemann, M.Sc, Ph.D., is a co-founder of the Institute for the Future of Human Potential, where he leads the charge in pioneering Self-Enhancement Science for the Success of Society. With a keen interest in exploring the untapped potential of the human mind, Dr. Lowemann has dedicated his career to pushing the boundaries of human capabilities and understanding.
Armed with a Master of Science degree and a Ph.D. in his field, Dr. Lowemann has consistently been at the forefront of research and innovation, delving into ways to optimize human performance, cognition, and overall well-being. His work at the Institute revolves around a profound commitment to harnessing cutting-edge science and technology to help individuals lead more fulfilling and intelligent lives.
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