Intracranial angioplasty and stent placement for cerebral atherosclerosis.

Intracranial atherosclerotic stenoses have been estimated to account for 8%-10% of all ischemic strokes. A substantial number of patients fail the best medical treatment, which includes control of vascular risk factors and administration of antithrombotics (platelet-active drugs or warfarin), statins, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. In these patients, angioplasty with stent placement is one reasonable treatment option for preventing massive ischemic stroke. Herein, we discuss basic pathophysiologic concepts and their effect on endovascular revascularization procedures.