根據(jù)一項(xiàng)最新研究，多重探頭計(jì)算機(jī)斷層掃描血管造影能夠幫助鑒別出患腦卒中危險(xiǎn)較高的頸動(dòng)脈狹窄患者。檢查結(jié)果能夠幫助確定需要接受手術(shù)治療或者采用創(chuàng)傷性較小治療方法的患者。

這項(xiàng)研究結(jié)果發(fā)表在2005年1月《美國X線學(xué)期刊》，研究了31例頸動(dòng)脈狹窄超過60％的患者：18例有頸動(dòng)脈疾病的癥狀，包括暫時(shí)性或者永久性神經(jīng)功能障礙；13例沒有腦卒中相關(guān)癥狀的疾病史。所有患者都接受了多重探頭計(jì)算機(jī)斷層掃描血管造影檢查，檢測了頸動(dòng)脈斑塊的密度。維吉利亞大學(xué)保健系統(tǒng)Kiran R.Nandalur醫(yī)生說：“我們發(fā)現(xiàn)有鈣化斑塊患者出現(xiàn)癥狀的可能比非鈣化斑塊患者小了21倍。”

現(xiàn)在，美國心臟學(xué)會(huì)建議頸動(dòng)脈狹窄超過60％的患者接受手術(shù)治療，該機(jī)構(gòu)開展此項(xiàng)手術(shù)的并發(fā)癥較少。但是，Nandalur醫(yī)生說：“我們的研究提示：沒有癥狀和鈣化斑塊的患者可以采用創(chuàng)傷性較小的治療方法，或者只使用藥物治療。但是需要開展大規(guī)模前瞻性研究來證實(shí)這些研究結(jié)果。”

Nandular醫(yī)生觀察到這些現(xiàn)象支持這樣的論斷：即腦卒中的風(fēng)險(xiǎn)不僅與斑塊類型而且與斑塊數(shù)量相關(guān)。

MDCT Angiography Shows Stroke Risk
 
Multiple detector computed tomography (MDCT) angiography can help assess which patients with narrowed carotid arteries are at a greater risk of having a stroke, according to a new study. The results could help determine which patients will require surgery and which can be treated with less invasive techniques.

The study, published in the January 2005 issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology, assessed 31 patients who had greater than 60% carotid artery stenosis--18 had symptoms of carotid artery disease, including transient or permanent episodes of neurologic dysfunction, whereas 13 had no history of stroke-related symptoms. All patients underwent MDCT angiography, and the density of the plaque in the carotid artery was determined. “We found that patients with calcified plaques were 21 times less likely to have symptoms than those with noncalcified plaques,” said Kiran R. Nandalur, M.D., from the University of Virginia Health System (Charlottesville, VA, USA).

At present, the American Heart Association recommends surgery for patients with carotid artery stenosis greater than 60%, given that the institution performing the procedure is associated with low complications. However, said Dr. Nandalur, “our study suggests that patients who have no symptoms and calcified plaques could potentially be treated less aggressively, possibly with just medicine, although larger prospective studies need to be done to confirm these results.”

Dr. Nandular observed that this evidence supports the emerging findings that the risk of stroke is dependent on the plaque type as well as the plaque amount.