title: Risk factors of intracranial cerebral atherosclerosis among asymptomatics.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Little information is available regarding the risk factors for intracranial cerebral atherosclerosis (ICAS), particularly among asymptomatics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from a consecutive series of 1,208 subjects aged > or =40 years, with no history of stroke, and who had undergone transcranial Doppler ultrasonography (TCD) were collected prospectively. The role of classic risk factors was assessed in the presence and severity of asymptomatic ICAS, which was determined by TCD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Regarding the presence of ICAS, the adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) were as follows: 1.22 (1.08-1.37) for every 10-year increase in age, 1.44 (1.08-1.91) for hypertension and 1.86 (1.33-2.59) for diabetes mellitus. No significant association was observed with regard to male sex, smoking or hyperlipidemia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings suggest that age, hypertension and diabetes mellitus are significant risk factors for ICAS in asymptomatic populations.
authors: Department of Neurology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul, Korea. braindoc@snu.ac.kr
authors: Hee-Joon
authors: HJ
authors: Bae
authors: Juneyoung
authors: J
authors: Lee
authors: Jong-Moo
authors: JM
authors: Park
authors: Ohyun
authors: O
authors: Kwon
authors: Ja-Seong
authors: JS
authors: Koo
authors: Byung-Kun
authors: BK
authors: Kim
authors: Dilip K
authors: DK
authors: Pandey
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D002537:Intracranial Arteriosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017585:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Transcranial