Association of Plaque Characteristics, Pial Collaterals and Perfusion with Recurrent Ischemic Stroke in Middle Cerebral Artery Stenosis

Association between plaque characteristics, perfusion, pial collaterals (PCs) and recurrent ischemic stroke is unclear. Few analyses focus on combination of blood vessels, perfusion and PCs. In this study, 62 patients presenting with a transient ischemic attack or acute ischemic stroke caused by middle cerebral artery atherosclerosis were involved. All patients underwent the routine head MRI/MRA scan and high-resolution vessel wall imaging examinations. We performed a comprehensive assessment of plaque characteristics, perfusion and PCs. We concluded that brain perfusion and PCs are correlated with recurrence of ischemic stroke and their combination provided incremental value in identifying the recurrence of ischemic stroke.