AcoArt sICAS: DCB in the Treatment of Symptomatic Intracranial Atherosclerotic Stenosis

A Prospective, Multicenter, Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Intracranial Drug-coated Balloon Catheters in the Treatment of Symptomatic Intracranial Atherosclerotic Stenosis

The purpose of the RCT trial is to determine whether DCB is not inferior to stent in treating intracranial stenosis.

This trial is a prospective, multi-center, 1:1 randomized using paclitaxel coated balloon versus stent to treat intracranial stenosis of 70-99% degree. And primary endpoint is angiographic restenosis at 6 months post-procedure.

Inclusion Criteria:

• 18 to 80 years of age;
• Patients with symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis;
• Patients with intracranial arterial de novo stenosis confirmed by digital subtraction angiography (DSA);
• Confirmed by DSA，the diameter of the target vessel is between 2.5mm-4.5mm ; according to WASID method, the degree of stenosis of the target lesion is 70%-99%;
• Baseline mRS score ≤2;
• Voluntarily participate in this study and sign the informed consent form.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with stroke within 2 weeks before procedure;
• Patients with stroke caused by perforating artery occlusion;
• Any history of brain parenchymal or other intracranial subarachnoid, subdural or extradural hemorrhage in the past 30 days;
• Those who have received thrombolysis within 24 hours before procedure;
• Deterioration of neurological function within 24 hours before procedure (defined as NIHSS score increased by ≥ 4 points over the baseline);
• The vascular path showed in angiography is so tortuous that it is difficult to advance catheters to the target lesion or retrieve;
• Lesions that investigators believe are not suitable for stenting;
• Patients with thrombus in target vessel;
• In addition to the target lesion, there are still other de novo lesion or ISR lesion with more than 70% diameter stenosis in intracranial arteries that need to be treated at the same time;
• After endovascular treatment of the target lesion, there is still a stenosis of more than 50% in the main blood supplying artery or an obstructive lesion in the distal vessel of target lesion;
• Major surgery (including open femoral artery, aortic or carotid artery surgery) within the past 30 days or planned within 90 days;
• Patients with renal artery, iliac artery, and coronary artery requiring simultaneous intervention;
• Combined with intracranial tumor, aneurysm or intracranial arteriovenous malformation;
• Intracranial artery stenosis caused by non-atherosclerotic lesions, including: arterial dissection, moya-moya disease, vasculitis disease, herpes zoster, varicella-zoster or other viral vascular diseases, neurosyphilis, any Other intracranial infections, any intracranial stenosis related to cerebrospinal fluid cells, radiation-induced vascular disease, fibromuscular dysplasia, sickle cell disease, neurofibromatosis, central nervous system benign vascular disease, postpartum vascular disease, suspected Vasospasm, suspicious embolism recanalization, etc.;
• Cardiac stroke or potential cardiogenic thromboembolism, with any of the following cardiogenic embolism causes: chronic or paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, mitral valve stenosis, mechanical valves, endocarditis, intracardiac thrombus or implant, dilated cardiomyopathy, spontaneous acoustic imaging of the left atrium;
• Patients with myocardial infarction within 6 weeks before procedure;
• Those who cannot tolerate general anesthesia due to insufficiency of important organs such as heart and lungs;
• Patients with known severe hepatic and renal dysfunction;
• Patients with hemoglobin<100g/L, platelet count<100×1,000,000,000/L, INR>1.5 or there are uncorrectable factors leading to bleeding(if there are multiple checks, the last one shall prevail);
• Patients who cannot receive dual antiplatelet therapy due to existing diseases or are tolerant to dual antiplatelet therapy confirmed by relevant test;
• Patients with known severe allergies or contraindications to heparin, paclitaxel, contrast agents and other related intravascular treatment drugs;
• Current alcohol or drug abuse, uncontrolled severe hypertension (systolic blood pressure>180mmHg or diastolic blood pressure>110mmHg);
• Life expectancy <1 year;
• Pregnant or lactating women;
• Patients who cannot complete the follow-up due to cognitive, emotional or mental illness;
• Patients who are participating in other drug/device clinical trials and have not completed all follow-ups required by the programmer;
• According to the judgement of the investigator, other situations that are not suitable for enrollment.