Whole Brain Vessel Wall Imaging in Stroke Patients (WISP): An International Multi-Center Registry

Whole Brain Vessel Wall Imaging in Stroke Patients (WISP): An International Multi-Center Registry

This is a new vessel wall imaging-based stroke registry which will investigate the clinical utility of the whole-brain intracranial vessel wall Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) technique in assessing the etiologies in patients with ischemic stroke.

The registry will focus on investigating the utility of whole-brain vessel wall MRI techniques in assessing the etiologies in patients with recent ischemic stroke. Patients who have had ischemic stroke (as confirmed by diffusion weighted MRI) and have had or will undergo 3D whole-brain vessel wall MRI within 8 weeks of symptom onset will be recruited into this study. It is anticipated that a total of 1000 subjects will be recruited from Feb 2017 to Feb 2019. Approximately 12 centers in the US and China will participate in the registry. MRI whole-brain vessel wall images will be analyzed for detection and characteristics of various vessel wall pathologies and association between vessel wall imaging findings and patient's clinical information.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male or female ≥ 18 years of age
• Ischemic stroke onset within 8 weeks and confirmed by diffusion weighted MRI
• Ability to read and understand informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• The cause of stroke has been confirmed to be related to cardiac or extracranial carotid or aorta pathologies.
• Contraindications to MR imaging including mechanically, magnetically, or electrically activated implants, ferromagnetic implants and ferromagnetic foreign bodies, pregnancy.
• Inability to tolerate MRI imaging secondary to an inability to lie supine or severe claustrophobia.
• Non-compliant with visit instructions, including inability to lie still, hold breath or follow procedure instructions