title: Intra- and extracranial atherosclerotic stenosis in China: epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment and risk factors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Data regarding the cerebral atherosclerotic stenosis (CAS) and incidence of stroke are conflicting. The number of stroke patients is more than three times that from coronary heart disease in China. The main aim of this report is to review the current status of intracranial and extracranial atherosclerotic stenosis including epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment and risk factors in China.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data was identified by searches of MEDLINE (January 1966 to December 2008), China Biological Medicine Database (CBM-disc 1979 to 2008), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI 1994 to December 2008).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The occurrence of intracranial artery stenosis was more frequent than that of extracranial artery in the Chinese population. TCD, Doppler ultrasound, CTA, MRA and DSA techniques are established to examine intracranial and extracranial atherosclerotic stenosis in China. Evidence-based treatments and CAS are more commonly applied in patients with cerebrovascular stenosis in China. However, the development of carotid endoarterectomy (CEA) is limited in Chinese communities. The risks of cerebral atherosclerotic stenosis include age, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, smoking and metabolic syndrome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Further studies are needed to focus on the intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology PLA 254 Hospital, Hebei District, Tianjin, China. lcymart@sohu.com.
authors.forename: C-Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: C-Q
authors.initials: CQ
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D016894:Endarterectomy, Carotid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D002537:Intracranial Arteriosclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000639:trends