Association Between Stroke Severity and 5-Year Mortality in Ischemic Stroke Patients with High-Grade Stenosis of Internal Carotid Artery.

BACKGROUND: The clinical presentations and outcomes of patients with high-grade stenosis of internal carotid artery (ICA) are highly variable. We investigate the influence of different stroke severity on outcomes of ischemic stroke patients with high-grade stenosis of ipsilateral ICA.

METHODS: 372 acute first-ever ischemic stroke patients with high-grade stenosis (70%-99%) or occlusion of ipsilateral ICA were enrolled and followed up for 5years. Stroke severities of the enrolled patients were grouped according to the Oxfordshire Community Stroke Project classification system as total anterior circulation infarcts (TACI) or non-TACI. Demographic features, vascular risk factors, comorbidities, and outcomes were compared between the 2 groups.

RESULTS: A total of 71 patients (19.1%) were presented with TACI. Of laboratory data, the values of white blood cell count and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein were significantly higher in patients with TACI (P = .008 and P = .003, respectively). Of clinical course, the occurrence of initial impaired conscious, stroke-in-evolution, pneumonia, gastrointestinal bleeding, and urinary tract infection were significantly higher in patients with TACI. The prevalence of dependent functional status was higher in patients with TACI. Multivariate Cox regression revealed that TACI is a significant predictor of 5-year all-cause mortality in first-ever ischemic stroke patients with high-grade stenosis of ipsilateral ICA (HR [hazard ratio] = 3.66, 95% confidence interval = 2.23-6.00, P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS: TACI is associated with increased risk of 5-year mortality in ischemic stroke patients with high-grade stenosis of ipsilateral ICA. Intensive medical treatment for stroke prevention in patients with severe carotid artery stenosis is warranted.