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ObjectivesWe aimed to compare the long-term outcomes and surgical benefits between moyamoya disease (MMD) and atherosclerosis-associated moyamoya vasculopathy (AS-MMV) using high-resolution MRI (HRMRI).MethodsMMV patients were retrospectively included and divided into the MMD and AS-MMV groups according to vessel wall features on HRMRI. Kaplan-Meier survival and Cox regression were performed to compare the incidence of cerebrovascular events and prognosis of encephaloduroarteriosynangiosis (EDAS) treatment between MMD and AS-MMV.ResultsOf the 1173 patients (mean age: 42.4±11.0 years; male: 51.0%) included in the study, 881 were classified into the MMD group and 292 into the AS-MMV group. During the average follow-up of 46.0±24.7 months, the incidence of cerebrovascular events in the MMD group was higher compared with that in the AS-MMV group before (13.7% vs 7.2%; HR 1.86; 95% CI 1.17 to 2.96; p=0.008) and after propensity score matching (6.1% vs 7.3%; HR 2.24; 95% CI 1.34 to 3.76; p=0.002). Additionally, patients treated with EDAS had a lower incidence of events than those not treated with EDAS, regardless of whether they were in the MMD (HR 0.65; 95% CI 0.42 to 0.97; p=0.043) or AS-MMV group (HR 0.49; 95% CI 0.51 to 0.98; p=0.048).ConclusionsPatients with MMD had a higher risk of ischaemic stroke than those with AS-MMV, and patients with both MMD and AS-MMV could benefit from EDAS. Our findings suggest that HRMRI could be used to identify those who are at a higher risk of future cerebrovascular events.

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Background This study aimed to compare the characteristics of carotid plaques between patients with transient ischemic attack (TIA) and ischemic stroke using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Methods Patients with a recent ischemic stroke or TIA who exhibited atherosclerotic plaques of carotid arteries in the symptomatic sides determined by MR vessel wall imaging were recruited. The plaque morphology and compositions including intraplaque hemorrhage (IPH), lipid-rich necrotic-core (LRNC) and calcification were compared between TIA and stroke patients. Logistic regression was performed to relate the plaque characteristics to the types of ischemic events. Results A total of 270 patients with TIA or ischemic stroke were recruited. Stroke patients had a significantly higher prevalence of diabetes (42.2% vs. 28.2%, p = 0.021), greater mean wall area (35.1 ± 10.1 mm2 vs. 32.0 ± 7.7 mm2, p = 0.004), mean wall thickness (1.3 ± 0.2 mm vs. 1.2 ± 0.2 mm, p = 0.001), maximum normalized wall index (NWI)(63.9% ± 6.0% vs. 62.2% ± 5.9%, p = 0.023) and %volume of LRNC (9.7% ± 8.2% vs. 7.4% ± 7.9%, p = 0.025) in the carotid arteries compared to those with TIA. After adjustment for clinical factors, above characteristics of carotid arteries were significantly associated with the type of ischemic events. After further adjustment for maximum NWI, this association remained statistically significant (OR, 1.41; CI, 1.01–1.96; p = 0.041). Conclusions Ischemic stroke patients had larger plaque burden and greater proportion of LRNC in carotid plaques compared to those with TIA. This study suggests that ischemic stroke patients had more vulnerable plaques compared to those with TIA.

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BackgroundLittle is known about the association between stroke and imaging and clinical features in conservatively treated patients with moyamoya disease (MMD).PurposeTo investigate independent risk factors for stroke in conservatively treated patients with MMD during a long‐term follow‐up.Study TypeProspective study.SubjectsOne hundred sixty conservatively managed patients with MMD (median age 46 years, 89 male).Field Strength/SequenceTime of flight, turbo inversion recovery magnitude T1WI, turbo spin echo (TSE) T2WI, echo‐planar imaging DWI, T2‐fluid attenuated inversion recovery, dynamic susceptibility contrast‐magnetic resonance imaging, and pre‐ and post‐contrast 3D TSE T1WI sequences at 3.0 Tesla.AssessmentPatients were assessed at baseline and followed yearly. Ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke incidence rates were determined. Multiple demographic, clinical (modified Rankin score [mRS]), and cerebral imaging (cerebral blood volume [CBV] and concentric enhancement of arterial wall) factors at baseline were considered as potential predictors of stroke during the follow‐up period.Statistical TestsUnivariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazards models to calculate the hazard ratios (HRs) and corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) for stroke. Cumulative risk of stroke was estimated by the Kaplan–Meier product‐limit method. A P value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.ResultsThe median follow‐up duration was 47 months. During the follow‐up period, 18 (11.25%) patients experienced stroke events (13 [8.13%] ischemic, 5 [3.12%] hemorrhagic). Univariable analysis showed that 11 factors were significantly associated with stroke. After adjustment for clinical characteristics, multivariable analysis showed that mRS score ≥3 (HR, 1.99; 95% CI, 1.26–3.14), decreased CBV (HR, 5.31; 95% CI, 2.32–12.13), and concentric enhancement of the arterial wall (HR, 4.16; 95% CI, 1.55–11.15) were significantly associated with stroke.Data ConclusionDecreased CBV, mRS score ≥ 3, and concentric enhancement of the arterial wall were significantly associated with increased incidence of stroke in conservatively treated MMD.Evidence Level2Technical EfficacyStage 4

Background and PurposeThis study aimed to investigate the arterial disease risk factors for the progression of intraplaque hemorrhage (IPH) in patients with carotid atherosclerosis using serial high-resolution magnetic resonance (MR) imaging.MethodsConsecutive symptomatic patients who had MRI evidence of intraplaque hemorrhage present in the ipsilateral carotid artery with respect to the side of the brain affected by stroke or TIA were recruited in the study. All the patients underwent follow-up MR imaging at least 6 months after baseline. The annual change in IPH and other carotid plaque morphology was calculated, and a tertile method was used to classify the plaques as progressed or not with respect to IPH volume using the software CASCADE. Logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were conducted to evaluate the risk factors for the progression of IPH.ResultsA total of thirty-four symptomatic patients (mean age: 67.1 years, standard deviation [SD]: 9.8 years, 27 men) were eligible for the final analysis, and contralateral plaques containing IPH were seen in 11 of these patients (making 45 plaques with IPH in total). During mean 16.6-month (SD: 11.0 months) follow-up, the overall annual change in IPH volume in 45 plaques with IPH was mean −10.9 mm3 (SD: 49.1 mm3). Carotid plaques were significantly more likely to be classified in progressed IPH group if the patient was taking antiplatelet agent at baseline (OR: 9.76; 95%CI: 1.05 to 90.56; p = 0.045), had a baseline history of current or past smoking (OR: 9.28; 95%CI: 1.26 to 68.31; p = 0.029), or had a larger baseline carotid plaque-containing vessel wall volume (OR: 1.36 per 10 mm3; 95%CI: 1.02 to 1.81; p = 0.032) after adjustments for confounding factors. ROC analysis indicated that the combination of these three risk factors in the final model produced good discriminatory value for the progressed IPH group (area under the curve: 0.887).ConclusionsTaking an antiplatelet agent at baseline, a baseline history of current or past smoking and larger baseline carotid plaque-containing vessel wall volume were independently predictive of plaques being in the progressed IPH group. Our findings indicate that awareness and management of such risk factors may reduce the risk of intraplaque hemorrhage progression.

Background: Intracranial vessel wall enhancement (VWE) on high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HRMRI) is associated with the progression and poor prognosis of moyamoya disease (MMD). However, the genetic background and risk factors for VWE in MMD have not been investigated. Therefore, this study assessed potential risk factors for VWE in MMD.<break><break>Methods: We evaluated MMD patients using HRMRI and traditional angiography examinations. The participants were divided into VWE group and non-VWE group based on the presence or absence of VWE on HRMRI. Logistic regression was performed to compare the risk factors for VWE in MMD. The incidence of cerebrovascular events of the different subgroups according to risk factors were compared using KaplanMeier survival and Cox regression.. STROBE (Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology) guidelines were followed for reporting our cohort study.<break><break>Results: We included 283 MMD patients, 84 of whom had VWE on HRMRI. The VWE group had higher modified Rankin Scale scores at admission (P = 0.014) and a higher incidence of ischemia and hemorrhage (P =0.002) than did the non-VWE group. Multiple logistics regression shows risk factors for VWE included the ring finger protein 213 (RNF213) pR4810K variant (OR: 2.01 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.08 - 3.76]; P = 0.028), hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy; OR: 5.08 [95% CI, 2.34 - 11.05], P < 0.001), and smoking history (OR, 3.49 [95% CI, 1.08-11.31], P = 0.037). During the follow-up of 63.9 13.2 months (medium 65 months), 18 recurrent stroke events occurred. Cox regression showed that VWE and RNF213 pR4810K variant were risk factors for follow-up stroke. <break><break>Conclusion: The RNF213 p.R4810K variant is strongly associated with VWE and poor prognosis in MMD. HHcy and smoking are independent risk factors for VWE; both are likely to induce the VWE phenomenon by affecting vascular endothelial function or causing vascular endothelial damage.