Clinical Trial: Asymptomatic Intracranial Atherosclerotic Disease in Pakistanis

Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Observational

Official Title: Asymptomatic Intracranial Atherosclerotic Disease: Prevalence, Clinical and Lifestyle Determinants in Urban Pakistan

Brief Summary: The incidence of stroke has increased by 100% in the last four decades in developing countries like Pakistan. Intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD) is the most frequent causative subtype of ischemic stroke in the world including Pakistan. ICAD is progressive narrowing of the arteries at the base of the brain due to atherosclerosis. After a stroke from ICAD, recurrence rate is highest in any sub-type of stroke, up to 28% with limited therapeutic options. Therefore, it is imperative to delineate the determinants of asymptomatic ICAD prior to stroke. Investigators hypothesized that there is at least a 20% difference in the proportion of clinical, life-style (dietary, physical activity, obesity, smoking and stress/depression), and socio-economic predictors of asymptomatic ICAD than those with no ICAD.

Detailed Summary:

Stroke is a major emerging cause of adult disability and the 3rd leading non-communicable cause of mortality in the world . With half of the world's population living in Asia, stroke epidemiology and its risk factor determination is important globally. The changes in population demographics and continuing industrialization in Asia have also led to a change in the epidemiology of stroke sub-types . Among the ischemic stroke sub-types, Intracranial Atherosclerotic disease is now emerging as the most prevalent vascular cause of stroke with high prevalence in Asian, African and Hispanic individuals .

Patients with ICAD are at a significant risk for recurrent stroke, with a risk as high as 25% in the first two years . Rate of recurrent stroke also varies by the location of the affected artery. Risk factor management is extremely important for the primary and secondary prevention of stroke in Asia as it is in Western countries. With the changing demographics and relatively fewer cost effective treatment modalities available, particularly for resource poor countries like Pakistan, it is imperative to delineate the clinical as well as lifestyle risk factors at an earlier asymptomatic stage to prevent future life-threatening consequences.

Therefore the primary objective of this study is to determine the clinical, lifestyle, dietary and psycho-social determinants of asymptomatic Intracranial Atherosclerotic disease (ICAD) and its other associated Brain MRI findings namely brain volume reduction, silent brain infarcts, and peri-ventricular hyper intensities in clinically normal adults with ICAD on MRI Brain.


Sponsor: Aga Khan University

Current Primary Outcome: Distribution and Degree of Asymptomatic Intracranial Stenosis [ Time Frame: MRA , Once , Over One Year ]

This was defined as any artery (Internal Carotid Artery ICA, Middle Cerebral Artery MCA,Anterior Cerebral Artery ACA,Posterior Cerebral Artery PCA, Basilar Artery BA, and Vertebral Artery VA) having >25% stenosis on MRA. An internationally standardized ( WASID) equation was used to calculate the degree of stenosis.

Percent stenosis= [1- (Dstenosis/D normal)*100], where D Stenosis is the diameter of the artery at the site of the most severe stenosis, and D normal= diameter of the proximal normal artery.



Original Primary Outcome: Same as current

Current Secondary Outcome: Associated Brain MRI Findings with Intracranial Stenosis [ Time Frame: MRA Once , Over One Year ]

Brain volume reduction, Central and Peripheral Atrophy Periventricular Lucencies Silent Brain Infarcts


Original Secondary Outcome: Same as current

Information By: Aga Khan University

Dates:
Date Received: February 25, 2014
Date Started: March 2013
Date Completion:
Last Updated: February 27, 2014
Last Verified: February 2014