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(Stroke. 2005;36:2047.)
© 2005 American Heart Association, Inc.

Cochrane Corner

Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty and Stenting for Vertebral Artery Stenosis

Graeme J. Hankey, MD, FRCP, Section Editor:; Lucy J. Coward, MRCP; Roland L. Featherstone, PhD Martin M. Brown, MD, FRCP

From the Institute of Neurology, University College London, UK.

Correspondence to Prof Martin M. Brown, Box 6 The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgey, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK. E-mail m.brown{at}ion.ucl.ac.uk

Key Words: angioplasty • prevention • stenosis • stent • vertebral artery

	Introduction

Top Introduction Objectives Search Strategy Selection Criteria Main Results Implications for Practice Implications for Research References

 
As many as 25% of ischemic strokes occur in the vertebrobasilar region.^1,2 Data on the prognosis of transient ischemic attack and minor stroke from a systematic review has shown that patients with posterior circulation events have a higher risk of subsequent stroke or death in the acute phase (up to 7 days after presenting symptoms) compared with patients who present with anterior circulation symptoms.³ Despite this, much less is known about the natural history of vertebral artery stenosis compared with carotid artery stenosis. Surgery for vertebral artery stenosis is technically difficult, potentially hazardous, and is not considered in most centers. Therefore, vertebral artery stenosis has traditionally been treated conservatively with medical care alone. Nonrandomized case series evidence suggests that vertebral artery stenosis may be treated endovascularly by percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) and/or stenting,^4–8 potentially offering an alternative to surgery to relieve symptoms caused by significant stenosis.

	Objectives

Top Introduction Objectives Search Strategy Selection Criteria Main Results Implications for Practice Implications for Research References

 
We wished to assess the safety and efficacy of vertebral artery PTA, with or without stenting, combined with medical care, compared with medical care alone, in patients with vertebral artery stenosis.

	Search Strategy

Top Introduction Objectives Search Strategy Selection Criteria Main Results Implications for Practice Implications for Research References

 
We searched the trial register of the Cochrane Stroke Group, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE (1966 to 2004), EMBASE (1980 to 2004), and Science Citation Index (1981 to 2004). We also contacted researchers in the field, as well as balloon catheter and stent manufacturers.

	Selection Criteria

Top Introduction Objectives Search Strategy Selection Criteria Main Results Implications for Practice Implications for Research References

 
We sought to identify truly randomized trials comparing any type of endovascular intervention combined with best medical therapy, or best medical therapy alone, in patients with symptomatic or asymptomatic vertebral artery stenosis. Two reviewers independently applied the inclusion criteria, extracted data, and assessed trial quality.

	Main Results

Top Introduction Objectives Search Strategy Selection Criteria Main Results Implications for Practice Implications for Research References

 
Only 1 completed, randomized trial fulfilling the inclusion criteria was found within the Carotid and Vertebral Artery Transluminal Angioplasty Study (CAVATAS).⁹ This is an international multicenter study in which long-term follow-up is ongoing. In the vertebral stenosis trial within CAVATAS, 16 patients with symptomatic, severe vertebral artery stenosis were randomized to endovascular treatment (n=8) or medical treatment alone (n=8). The mean time from symptom onset to randomization was 92 days (range, 5 to 376 days). Endovascular treatment was technically successful in all 8 patients but was complicated by posterior circulation transient ischemic attack in 2 patients. There were no strokes in any arterial territory or deaths from any cause in either group within 30 days of randomization or treatment. In the endovascular group, the mean vessel stenosis at follow-up was 47% (range, 0% to 80%). Patients were followed-up for a mean of 4.5 years in the endovascular group and 4.9 years in the medical group, and there were no further vertebrobasilar territory strokes in either group during this time. Morbidity and mortality was related to carotid and coronary artery disease in this trial within CAVATAS.

	Implications for Practice

Top Introduction Objectives Search Strategy Selection Criteria Main Results Implications for Practice Implications for Research References

 
The potential benefits of endovascular intervention could not be assessed from these data. There is currently insufficient evidence from randomized trials to support the routine use of PTA or stenting for vertebral artery stenosis.

	Implications for Research

Top Introduction Objectives Search Strategy Selection Criteria Main Results Implications for Practice Implications for Research References

 
Endovascular treatment of vertebral artery stenosis should be performed only within the context of randomized controlled trials. Future trials should seek to establish what constitutes best medical treatment for vertebral artery stenosis, as well as comparing endovascular intervention with medical treatment.

Note: The full text of this review is available in the Cochrane Library (for subscribers http://www.mrw.interscience.wiley.com/cochrane/clsysrev/articles/CD000516/frame.html). The full article should be cited as: Coward LJ, Featherstone RL, Brown MM. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting for vertebral artery stenosis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2005, Issue 2.

Received April 19, 2005; accepted April 26, 2005.

	References

Top Introduction Objectives Search Strategy Selection Criteria Main Results Implications for Practice Implications for Research References

 

1. Bamford J, Sandercock P, Dennis M, Burn J, Warlow C. Classification and natural history of clinically identifiable subtypes of cerebral infarction. Lancet. 1991; 337: 1521–1526.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
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5. Higashida RT, Tsai FY, Halbach VV, Dowd CF, Smith T, Fraser K, Hieshima GB. Transluminal angioplasty for atherosclerotic disease of the vertebral and basilar arteries. J Neurosurg. 1993; 78: 192–198.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
6. Jenkins JS, White CJ, Ramee SR, Collins TJ, Chilakamarri VK, McKinley KL, Jain SP. Vertebral artery stenting. Catheter Cardiovasc Interv. 2001; 54: 1–5.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
7. The SSYLVIA Study Investigators. Stenting of symptomatic atherosclerotic lesions in the vertebral or intracranial arteries (SSYLVIA) study results. Stroke. 2004; 35: 1388–1392.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
8. Chastain HD2nd, Campbell MS, Iyer S, Roubin GS, Vitek J, Mathur A, Al-Mubarak NA, Terry JB, Yates V, Kretzer K, Alred D, Gomez CR. Extracranial vertebral artery stent placement: in-hospital and follow-up results. J Neurosurg. 1999; 91: 547–552.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
9. Coward LJ, Featherstone RL, Brown MM. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting for vertebral artery stenosis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2005, Issue 2.

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This Article Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 36/9/2047    most recent 01.STR.0000176586.43385.c5v1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Hankey, G. J. Articles by Brown, M. M. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Hankey, G. J. Articles by Brown, M. M. Related Collections Angioplasty and Stenting