Open AccessVertebrobasilar Flow Evaluation and Risk of Transient Ischaemic Attack and Stroke study (VERiTAS): rationale and design
Author(s) -
AminHanjani Sepideh,
RoseFinnell Linda,
Richardson DeJuran,
Ruland Sean,
Pandey Dilip,
Thulborn Keith R.,
Liebeskind David S.,
Zipfel Gregory J.,
Elkind Mitchell S. V.,
Kramer Jeffrey,
Silver Frank L.,
Kasner Scott E.,
Caplan Louis R.,
Derdeyn Colin P.,
Gorelick Philip B.,
Charbel Fady T.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
international journal of stroke
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.375
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1747-4949
pISSN - 1747-4930
DOI - 10.1111/j.1747-4949.2010.00528.x
Subject(s) - medicine , stroke (engine) , magnetic resonance angiography , stenosis , magnetic resonance imaging , vertebrobasilar insufficiency , angiography , radiology , cardiology , population , prospective cohort study , observational study , vertebral artery , mechanical engineering , environmental health , engineering
Background Over one‐third of ischaemic strokes occur in the posterior circulation, and a leading cause is atherosclerotic vertebrobasilar disease. Symptomatic vertebrobasilar disease carries a high annual recurrent stroke risk, averaging 10–15% per year. Endovascular angioplasty and stenting are increasingly used but carry risks, and the benefit remains unproven. Determining stroke predictors in this population is critical to identifying high‐risk patients for future trials of intervention. Preliminary studies indicate that stroke risk in vertebrobasilar disease is strongly related to haemodynamic compromise, which can be measured noninvasively using quantitative magnetic resonance angiography. Methods/study design The Vertebrobasilar Flow Evaluation and Risk of Transient Ischaemic Attack and Stroke (VERiTAS) study, a prospective multicentre NIH‐funded observational study of symptomatic vertebrobasilar stenosis (≥50%) or occlusion, is designed to test the hypothesis that patients demonstrating compromised blood flow as assessed by quantitative magnetic resonance angiography are at higher stroke risk. The study will recruit 80 patients at six sites in North America over 4‐years. Upon enrollment, subjects will undergo haemodynamic assessment with blinded quantitative magnetic resonance angiography to assess large vessel flow in the vertebrobasilar territory, and be prospectively designated as compromised or normal flow. Patients will be re‐imaged with quantitative magnetic resonance angiography at 6‐, 12‐, and 24‐months, and followed for 12–24‐months for the primary end‐point of stroke in the vertebrobasilar territory. Conclusion: The VERiTAS study is the first prospective study of haemodynamics and stroke risk in the posterior circulation. The results may impact the selection criteria for interventional candidates and also define a low‐risk population in whom the risks of invasive interventions would be unnecessary.