AUTHOR=Fote Gianna M. , Raefsky Sophia , Mock Kelton , Chaudhari Amit , Shafie Mohammad , Yu Wengui 

TITLE=Intracranial Arterial Calcifications: Potential Biomarkers of Stroke Risk and Outcome

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Neurology

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2022.900579

DOI=10.3389/fneur.2022.900579

ISSN=1664-2295

ABSTRACT=<p>Intracranial artery calcifications (IAC), a common and easily identifiable finding on computed tomorgraphy angiography (CTA), has gained recognition as a possible risk factor for ischemic stroke. While atherosclerosis of intracranial arteries is believed to be a mechanism that commonly contributes to ischemic stroke, and coronary artery calcification is well-established as a predictor of both myocardial infarction (MI) and ischemic stroke risk, IAC is not currently used as a prognostic tool for stroke risk or recurrence. This review examines the pathophysiology and prevalence of IAC, and current evidence suggesting that IAC may be a useful tool for prediction of stroke incidence, recurrence, and response to acute ischemic stroke therapy.</p>