Ischemic brain lesions after carotid artery stenting increase future cerebrovascular risk

Abstract

Background: Brain lesions on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) are frequently found after carotid artery stenting (CAS), but their clinical relevance remains unclear.

Objectives: This study sought to investigate whether periprocedural ischemic DWI lesions after CAS or carotid endarterectomy (CEA) are associated with an increased risk of recurrent cerebrovascular events.

Methods: In the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) substudy of ICSS (International Carotid Stenting Study), 231 patients with symptomatic carotid stenosis were randomized to undergo CAS (n=124) or CEA (n=107). MRIs were performed 1 to 7 days before and 1 to 3 days after treatment. The primary outcome event was stroke or transient ischemic attack in any territory occurring between the post-treatment MRI and the end of follow-up. Time to occurrence of the primary outcome event was compared between patients with (DWI+) and without (DWI-) new DWI lesions on the post-treatment scan in the CAS and CEA groups separately.

Results: Median time of follow-up was 4.1 years (interquartile range: 3.0 to 5.2). In the CAS group, recurrent stroke or transient ischemic attack occurred more often among DWI+ patients (12 of 62) than among DWI- patients (6 of 62), with a cumulative 5-year incidence of 22.8% (standard error [SE]: 7.1%) and 8.8% (SE: 3.8%), respectively (unadjusted hazard ratio: 2.85; 95% confidence interval: 1.05 to 7.72; p=0.04). In DWI+ and DWI- patients, 8 and 2 events, respectively, occurred within 6 months after treatment. In the CEA group, there was no difference in recurrent cerebrovascular events between DWI+ and DWI- patients.

Conclusions: Ischemic brain lesions discovered on DWI after CAS seem to be a marker of increased risk for recurrent cerebrovascular events. Patients with periprocedural DWI lesions might benefit from more aggressive and prolonged antiplatelet therapy after CAS. (A Randomised Comparison of the Risks, Benefits and Cost Effectiveness of Primary Carotid Stenting With Carotid Endarterectomy: International Carotid Stenting Study; ISRCTN25337470).

Keywords: DWI lesions; carotid stenosis; endarterectomy; long-term outcome; stenting.

Figure 1

Study Flow Diagram Diagram outlining the 2 arms of the study, including events that precluded patients from analysis. Scans are magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). BMT = best medical treatment; CAS = carotid artery stenting; CEA = carotid endarterectomy; DWI = diffusion-weighted imaging; MI = myocardial infarction.

Figure 2

Cumulative Incidence Rates of Outcome Events During Follow-Up Comparison of any stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA), ipsilateral stroke or TIA, and any stroke between patients with periprocedural DWI lesions (red curve) and without periprocedural DWI lesions (blue curve) with either carotid artery stenting (CAS) or carotid endarterectomy (CEA). Percentages are point estimates of cumulative incidences after 1 and 5 years of follow-up. CI = confidence interval; HR = hazard ratio.

Central Illustration

Significance of Brain Lesions After Carotid Artery Stenting: Kaplan-Meier Cumulative Incidence Curves of Recurrent Stroke or TIA During Follow-Up Unadjusted Cox regression hazard ratio (HR) for any stroke or TIA in patients with and without new ischemic diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) lesions on post-treatment magnetic resonance imaging. Percentages are point estimates of cumulative incidences after 1 and 5 years of follow-up. CI = confidence interval.