Intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS) is a common cause of stroke, especially in East and South Asia, and is significantly associated with stroke recurrence and early neurological deterioration (END) despite aggressive medical management. Minor stroke (National Institutes of Health Stroke, NIHSS score ≤ 5) patients with ICAS often has higher risk of END. The early realization of blood flow patency is closely related to the improvement of patient outcomes. Submaximal balloon angioplasty (SBA) as a safer and simpler intervention which can improve cerebral blood flow. Thus, SBA may be an effective strategy for preventing END in acute ischemic stroke patients with ICAS.
Over 18 years of age;
Minor ischemic stroke within 1 week of onset (NIHSS≤5);
Have received the best drug treatment (dual antibody, anti-plate combined with anticoagulation), but symptoms still have measurable fluctuations or progression (NIHSS increased by at least 1 point);
Symptoms fluctuate to the time of receiving balloon dilation within 24 hours;
Patients who have developed large intracranial vessel occlusion;
Intracranial hemorrhagic diseases in the past 3 months: cerebral hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, etc.;
Non-atherosclerotic disease-related stenosis: arterial dissection, moya-moya disease, arterioinflammatory disease, etc.
Clotting disorders or systemic bleeding tendency or platelets less than 100,000;