Association of aortic knob calcification with intracranial stenosis in ischemic stroke patients intertiary care centre

BACKGROUND: To study the association between Aortic knob calcification (AC) and intracranial stenosis in acute ischemic stroke patients ischemic stroke patients using simple, non-invasive and routine chest radiography. METHODS: In a study population of 102 acute ischemic stroke patients who were admitted under medicine department in Government Royapettah Hospital/ Kilpauk Medical College from April 2017 to September 2017who underwent magnetic resonance angiography. The presence of AC was assessed in a chest radiograph poster anterior view. The association of AC with IC stenosis was analyzed. RESULTS: Patient mean age (63 vs 59 years, P = 0.010) was higher in patients with intracranial stenosis, and the prevalence of IC stenosis (69 vs. 31%) were higher in patients with AC than in patients without calcification. After adjusting for age, gender and vascular risk factors, analysis showed that Aortic knob calcification (69%), Age (p = 0.10), Diabetes (p < 0.01), Hypertension (p < 0.01), Smoking (p < 0.01), Alcohol (p < 0.01) were independent factors affecting IC stenosis. CONCLUSIONS: Using a simple, non-invasive and routine chest radiography, AC appears to be a reliable predictor for IC stenosis, an important mechanism of ischemic stroke