Abstract

Background: In the arterial bed, Deposition of calcium may indicate the extent of atherosclerotic lesions and aortic knob calcification (AC) is associated with increased risks of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events. In this study, we evaluated the aortic knob calcification and its clinical importance in ischemic stroke patients with intracranial stenosis and without intracranial stenosis by using simple, non-invasive routine chest radiography.

Aim: To find the prevalence of Aortic Knob Calcification in Ischemic stroke patients with Intracranial Stenosis in Government Royapettah Hospital/Government Kilpauk Medical College. To find the Association of Aortic knob calcification in patients with and without Intracranial stenosis. To evaluate the clinical importance of Aortic knob calcification (AC) in ischemic stroke patients with intracranial (IC) stenosis using simple, non-invasive and routine chest radiography.

Materials and Methods: Patient admitted in medicine department of Government Royapettah Hospital / Kilapuk Medical College. All the cases undergo chest radiography in the posteroanterior (PA) view. The presence of calcification in the aortic knob is recorded. All the cases will undergo MRI Angiography of brain. Based on the findings of the cerebral angiogram, any segment of either intracerebral arteries or extra cranial arteries will be classified as normal, stenosis or occlusion. The classifications will be based on a Radiologist report and the existence of any degree of stenotic lesion will be interpreted as stenosis. Samples will be collected from venous blood after a 12-hour overnight fast, and lipid profiles and standard blood tests will be performed on admission. Here I will compare the proportion of Aortic knob calcification in those with Intracranial stenosis and those without Intracranial Stenosis.

Results: Among the study patients of 102 Aortic knob calcification was present in 32 subjects accounting for 31.4% .In Aortic Knob Calcification vs ICS, Aortic knob calcification was present in 22 subjects of Intracranial stenosis subjects accounting to 32.4%. Aortic Knob Calcification –ICS category was analysed using chi-square test, Fisher's Exact Test and pearson chi square, Among the study patients, there was no statistically significant difference.

Conclusion: There was significant association between increased age, Diabetes, Hypertension, Smoking, Alcohol, Aortic Knob calcification and subjects with intracranial stenosis. There was no significant association between Lipid profile Total cholesterol, TGL, HDL, LDL and subjects with Intracranial stenosis.

Keywords: Aortic Knob Calcification, Ischemic stroke, Intracranial Stenosis.