Atherosclerotic plaques are mainly found at arterial bifurcations, branch points and vessel curvatures, whereas straight non branching arterial segments are generally spared. Stroke is a major cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide, with ischemic stroke being the predominant type (approximately 80%) found in stroke patients. With the current ageing population, the number of people suffering from stroke will inevitably escalate leading to increasing demand for more effective prevention, diagnosis and treatment strategies. As one of the most common causes of ischemic stroke worldwide Intracranial Atherosclerosis (ICAS) accounts for about 30-50% of ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attacks in Asia, 15-29% in Africa, and 5-10% in Europe or North America. Exploring the distribution of risk factors among these subtypes is essential for understanding potential pathogenic mechanisms of stroke and targeting preventive treatments. This will also influence choices for management. In this regard, Lipoprotein (a) (Lp (a)) is a Low- Density Lipid (LDL)-particle which is composed of apolipoprotein B-100 to which apolipoprotein (a) is covalently bound. Recently, Lp (a) has been recognized as a potentially important risk factor for atherosclerotic disease. To the best of our knowledge, there is no study from India which has compared Lp (a) levels between ECAS and ICAS patients. This led us to undertake the present study to find out whether raised Lp (a) is linked to increased incidence of intracranial atherosclerosis in Indians.

The present cross-sectional study was conducted by the Department of Neurology, PD Hinduja National Hospital & Medical Research Centre, and Mumbai in which patients with a diagnosis of ischemic stroke were included from January 2016 till December 2016. During the study duration 110 ECAS and 40 ICAS patients were included. The patients and their attendants were explained the purpose of the study and an informed consent was obtained from them or their legal representatives before enrolment in the study. The study was approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee.

With Regards,
Sara Giselle
Associate Managing Editor
Journal of Stroke Research & Therapy