title: Intracranial steno-occlusive arterial disease and its associations in Egyptian ischemic stroke patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Intracranial arterial steno-occlusive disease is prevalent among non-white populations. We explored whether a similar pattern exists in Egyptians and assessed its clinical-radiological associations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive acute ischemic stroke patients were recruited for 6 months and had magnetic resonance imaging/magnetic resonance angiography of brain within 2 days of the event. Magnetic resonance angiography was analyzed for significant stenosis (>50%), flow gaps, and complete occlusions in the major intracranial arteries.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 143 patients completed the study (62.4 ± 12.6 years, 58.7% males). Magnetic resonance angiography showed symptomatic arterial stenosis in 27.3%, asymptomatic stenosis in 16.1%, and occlusions in 23.7% patients. Carotid duplex showed stenosis >70% in only 7.7% patients. Patients with intracranial arterial steno-occlusive disease had higher National Institutes of Health Stroke Score at admission (10.9 ± 7 versus 8 ± 5.6; P=0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Symptomatic and asymptomatic intracranial arterial steno-occlusive disease was prevalent in this Egyptian acute stroke sample. This might have important implications on stroke management in this population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Ain Shams University Hospitals, Cairo, Egypt. ramezm@msn.com
authors.forename: Ramez Reda
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Moustafa
authors.forename: Amr Abdel
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Moneim
authors.forename: Haitham Hamdy
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Salem
authors.forename: Ali Soliman
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Shalash
authors.forename: Hosam Ahmed
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Azmy
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004534:Egypt / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020765:Intracranial Arterial Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*