Study of Collateral Circulation in Patients With Symptomatic Intracranial Anterior Circulation Occlusion

Intracranial artery stenosis is the leading cause of stroke onset or recurrence in Asian. Multiple studies have shown that anterior circulation is most common in intracranial artery stenosis, especially the middle cerebral artery in patients with symptomatic or asymptomatic ischemic stroke. Based on the clinical experiences, we found that the cerebral collateral development can affect clinical symptoms seriously in patients with large artery stenosis. Compensated blood flow can reach the ischemic area through collateral circulation (including circle of Willis, leptomeningeal collaterals, extracranial to intracranial collaterals, and new angiogenesis) when the blood-supplying artery of the brain is severely stenotic or even occluded, however, considerable differences across individuals exist. Studies have shown statins and butylphthalide can promote collateral circulation. The influencing factors on collateral circulation building have not been completely identified yet, but a recent research found that Naturally occurring variants of Rabep2（Rab GTPase binding effector protein 2）are major determinants of variation in collateral extent and stroke severity in mice. On this basis, clinical trials have been conducted in order to confirm that the Rabep2 gene is associated with individual differences in the collateral circulation.

Summarizing new findings, we suspect whether the difference in the degree of collateral circulation is significant for long-term prognosis in patients with cerebral large arterial occlusion, and whether promoting collateral circulation and new angiogenesis can become a new treatment approach. Hereby, we plan to recruit 500 patients with cerebral large-artery occlusion, collect clinical and Imaging (CTA) information, analyze and investigate if the difference in the degree of collateral circulation can be the independent influencing factor for long-term prognosis. This study will collect blood sample of patients and further examine SNPs of Rabep2, and will then analyze the correlation between Rabep2 and patients with cerebral large-artery occlusion. This project will follow up rolled patients for 1 year, observe if long-term intake of butylphthalide can promote cerebral collateral development.