Magnetic Resonance Imaging to Investigate Silent Strokes During Neck and Skull Angioplasty

NCT ID: NCT00015717

Last Updated: 2008-03-04

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Total Enrollment: 24 participants
• Study Classification: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2001-04-30
• Study Completion Date: 2004-03-31

Brief Summary

This study will use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to determine if silent strokes occur during angioplasty of the blood vessels in the neck or skull. Neck and skull angioplasties are relatively new procedures whose possible complications are still under investigation.

Patients 18 years of age or older who are admitted to Suburban Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland, for angioplasty of one or more of the blood vessels in the neck or skull may participate in this study. Participants must be able to undergo a brain MRI. Within 24 hours before their angioplasty, patients will provide a medical history and have a physical examination and brain MRI. The physical examination and MRI will be repeated within 24 hours after the angioplasty.

MRI is a diagnostic test that uses a magnetic field and radio waves to show structural and chemical changes in tissues. This technique is more sensitive than X-rays in detecting some changes that occur in diseases of the brain. For the procedure, the patient lies on a table that slides into a metal cylinder (the scanner). The confined space may produce anxiety in some patients, and patients can talk to the technician at all times during the procedure. Earplugs are provided to muffle loud knocking and pulsing noises that occur while the scanner is taking pictures. During the study, the contrast material gadolinium may be injected into an arm vein. Gadolinium "brightens" the pictures, producing better images of brain blood flow.

Patients will be contacted by telephone 30 days after the procedure to follow how they are doing and learn whether any complications resulted from the angioplasty.

Detailed Description

Recently cervico-cranial angioplasty and stenting (CCAS) has been introduced as alternative treatment for occlusive disease of the extracranial and the intracranial vessels. Temporary or permanent clinically detectable neurological deficits occur in up to 13% of all patients undergoing CASS and are usually related to distal embolization or hemodynamic insufficiency. Silent cerebral micro-emboli are known to occur in patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy and angioplasty but are believed to be of little clinical significance. Distal embolization may be a technical concern when performing CCAS and could cause silent cerebral ischemia. High resolution diffusion-weighted MRI may detect silent hyperacute ischemic lesions in patients undergoing CCAS and examination by a stroke neurologist may detect clinical deficits otherwise unrecognized.

Conditions

Brain Ischemia

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

Men and women age 18 years or older admitted for angioplasty with or without stenting of any intra or extra-cranial vessel.

Exclusion Criteria

Any MRI contraindication (insulin pump, aneurysm clips, implanted neural stimulator, cardiac pacemaker or defibrillator, cochlear implant, metal shrapnel or bullet)

Patients with hyperperfusion syndrome following the angioplasty.

Patients with cardiovascular or respiratory instability.

Patients with severe peri-procedural stroke at risk for herniation.

Confused or encephalopathic patients who are unable to cooperate.

Pregnant women.

Lactating women

• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

NIH

Sponsor Role: lead

Locations

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

Bethesda, Maryland, United States

Countries

United States

References

Gil-Peralta A, Mayol A, Marcos JR, Gonzalez A, Ruano J, Boza F, Duran F. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of the symptomatic atherosclerotic carotid arteries. Results, complications, and follow-up. Stroke. 1996 Dec;27(12):2271-3. doi: 10.1161/01.str.27.12.2271.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 8969792 (View on PubMed)

Qureshi AI, Luft AR, Janardhan V, Suri MF, Sharma M, Lanzino G, Wakhloo AK, Guterman LR, Hopkins LN. Identification of patients at risk for periprocedural neurological deficits associated with carotid angioplasty and stenting. Stroke. 2000 Feb;31(2):376-82. doi: 10.1161/01.str.31.2.376.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 10657409 (View on PubMed)

Lovblad KO, Pluschke W, Remonda L, Gruber-Wiest D, Do DD, Barth A, Kniemeyer HW, Bassetti C, Mattle HP, Schroth G. Diffusion-weighted MRI for monitoring neurovascular interventions. Neuroradiology. 2000 Feb;42(2):134-8. doi: 10.1007/s002340050032.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 10663492 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

01-N-0146

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: secondary_id

010146

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id