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Do you recommend any medical management for patients with evidence of intracranial atherosclerosis without evidence for stroke?

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Would you recommend antiplatelet medications in patients with asymptomatic intracranial stenosis without stroke?

125 physicians have voted

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5 Answers
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Neurology · HCA Houston Healthcare
Answered on

I would focus more on primary prevention strategies, including lifestyle modifications and high-intensity statin therapy if LDL is elevated. The evidence supporting antiplatelet therapy for primary prevention in patients with stroke risk or intracranial atherosclerosis is either lacking or not stron...

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Neurology · University of Virginia, School of Medicine
Answered on

Agree with the above answers. I also look at the presence of microvascular changes, and if present at Fazeka 2 or higher grades (with or without silent infarct), then in addition to strict risk factor control, screening and management of underlying sleep disorders, I do start an antiplatelet, provid...

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Neurology · Southern California Hospital
Answered on

As long as there are no contraindications, prophylaxis seems logical.

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Neurology · University of Minnesota
Answered on

If the MRI shows no silent strokes, antiplatelet meds would be considered if the patient has significant vascular risk factors.

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Neurology · Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Answered on

I would use a baby aspirin, though even more important would be blood pressure management to <120 mm Hg systolic and statin to keep LDL below 70, and smoking cessation if the patient is a smoker, as well as dietary modification and other of the AHA essential 8.

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