title: Increased pulsatility index is associated with intracranial arterial calcification.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  An increase in the pulsatility index (PI) has been suggested to reflect distal vascular resistance. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the association between intracranial arterial calcification and intracranial PIs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack were included. The PIs of both middle cerebral arteries (MCAs) were measured by transcranial Doppler ultrasonography. Intracranial carotid artery calcification (ICAC) was assessed on computed tomography angiography, and then compared with the mean PI of both MCAs. Patients with internal carotid artery steno-occlusion were excluded from this study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 156 patients were finally enrolled. The prevalence of diabetes increased as the PI value increased (p for trends; p = 0.025). PI was correlated with ICAC score (r = 0.413, p < 0.001) and age (r = 0.507, p < 0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that aging and ICAC were independent determinants of the PI of MCA after adjusting for sex, systolic blood pressure, smoking, and the presence of diabetes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows that an increase in PI was correlated with the severity of ICAC, which suggests calcification-related vascular resistance might have a role in the elevation of PI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Chung-Ang University Medical Center, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Kwang-Yeol
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Pil-Wook
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Yong Bum
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Heui-Soo
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Bum-Chun
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Suh
authors.forename: Won Tae
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Yoon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020768:Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D063177:Pulse Wave Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D017585:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Transcranial; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000502:physiology