Relationship between intracranial arterial calcification and prognosis of patients with acute large vessel occlusion stroke undergoing mechanical thrombectomy

Objective To investigate the relationship between intracranial arterial calcification and prognosis after mechanical thrombectomy in patients with acute large vessel occlusion stroke.

Methods A total of 147 patients with acute large vessel occlusion stroke who underwent mechanical thrombectomy were enrolled in this study. The length, density, and location of intracranial arterial calcification were evaluated by CT. Based on the intracranial arterial calcification status, patients were divided into three groups: symptomatic intracranial arterial calcification group (n=42), asymptomatic intracranial arterial calcification group (n=24), and no intracranial arterial calcification group (n=81). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was performed to explore the relationship between intracranial arterial calcification and clinical outcomes after mechanical thrombectomy.

Results Compared with patients in the asymptomatic and no intracranial arterial calcification groups, patients in the symptomatic intracranial arterial calcification group, had older age, a higher proportion of hypertension, and required more rescue angioplasty or stenting after mechanical thrombectomy (P < 0.05). There was a statistically significant difference in the location of calcification between the symptomatic and asymptomatic intracranial arterial calcification groups (P < 0.05), but no significant differences in the length and density of calcification between the two groups were observed (P>0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis revealed that symptomatic intracranial arterial calcification was an independent risk factor for failed revascularization (adjusted OR=8.67, 95%CI, 2.39 to 15.68, P < 0.001), the need for rescue interventional therapy (adjusted OR=6.46, 95%CI, 2.26 to 14.29, P < 0.001), and poor neurological recovery (adjusted OR=3.91, 95%CI, 1.38 to 10.16, P=0.023) after adjusting for potential confounding factors.

Conclusion Symptomatic intracranial arterial calcification is closely associated with poor clinical outcomes after mechanical thrombectomy in patients with acute large vessel occlusion stroke. Preoperative assessment of intracranial arterial calcification is crucial for selecting revascularization strategies in these patients.