What Do We Know About Intracranial Atherosclerosis?

This clinical update is a review of information about intracranial atherosclerosis discussed at a consensus meeting. Concise sections review the prevalence, risk factors, and natural courses of symptomatic and asymptomatic intracranial atherosclerosis, its diagnosis, and its treatment. The most extensive sections consider interventional treatment.

The authors mention recommendations, when available, concerning treatment. For example, for patients with symptomatic intracranial atherosclerosis, the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association recommends aspirin plus extended-release dipyridamole, or possibly clopidogrel alone, over aspirin alone. The review also touches on newer and experimental approaches.