Table 1.
Baseline Characteristics
| RIPC Group n=63 | Control Group n=63 | Sham Group n=63 | P Value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age (in years) | 67.5±8.6 | 66.5±8.6 | 65.7±8.2 | 0.511 |
| Male (%) | 46 (73.0) | 45 (71.4) | 44 (69.8) | 0.925 |
| Serum glucose, mmol/L | 5.68±1.44 | 5.58±1.23 | 5.31±1.20 | 0.243 |
| TG, mmol/L | 3.64±0.91 | 3.51±0.93 | 3.52±1.04 | 0.691 |
| LDL, mmol/L | 2.11±0.75 | 2.06±0.75 | 2.16±0.85 | 0.779 |
| HDL, mmol/L | 1.34±0.33 | 1.28±0.38 | 1.47±0.42 | 0.022 |
| Cholesterol, mmol/L | 1.65±0.88 | 1.46±0.83 | 1.44±0.66 | 0.268 |
| Homocysteine | 14.94±4.77 | 16.46±7.88 | 16.93±6.04 | 0.187 |
| Vascular risk factors | ||||
| Hypertension | 42 (66.7) | 39 (61.9) | 45 (71.4) | 0.526 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 20 (31.7) | 21 (33.3) | 24 (38.1) | 0.737 |
| Hypercholesterolemia | 22 (34.9) | 24 (38.1) | 19 (30.2) | 0.640 |
| Smoking (past and present) | 33 (52.4) | 30 (47.6) | 29 (46.0) | 0.759 |
| Coronary heart disease | 9 (14.3) | 7 (11.1) | 5 (7.9) | 0.526 |
| Systolic blood pressure at randomization (mm Hg) | 133.6±13.3 | 133.3±16.5 | 132.0±16.5 | 0.823 |
| Carotid disease | ||||
| Symptomatic | 41(65.1) | 45(71.4) | 42 (66.7) | 0.730 |
| Asymptomatic | 22(34.9) | 18(28.6) | 21 (33.3) | 0.730 |
| Modified Rankin Scale at randomization | ||||
| 0 | 51 (81.0) | 50 (79.4) | 49 (77.8) | 0.908 |
| 1 | 10 (15.9) | 11 (17.5) | 11 (17.5) | 0.963 |
| 2 | 2 (3.18) | 1 (1.59) | 2 (3.18) | — |
| 3 | 0 (0) | 1 (1.59) | 1 (1.59) | — |
| Type of aortic arch27 | ||||
| Type I | 26 (41.3) | 28 (44.4) | 31 (49.2) | 0.666 |
| Type II | 20 (31.7) | 24 (38.1) | 16 (25.4) | 0.310 |
| Type III | 6 (9.5) | 4 (6.3) | 7 (11.1) | 0.636 |
| Location of target stenosis* | ||||
| L-ICA | 30 (47.6) | 28 (44.4) | 34 (54.0) | 0.553 |
| R-ICA | 33 (52.4) | 35 (55.6) | 29 (46.0) | 0.553 |
| Coexistence of stenosis† | ||||
| Intracranial artery | 2 (3.2) | 1 (1.6) | 4 (6.3) | 0.354 |
| Extracranial artery | 22 (34.9) | 19 (30.1) | 20 (31.7) | 0.844 |
| Coexistence of occlusion† | ||||
| Intracranial artery | 4 (6.3) | 2 (3.2) | 3 (4.8) | 0.705 |
| Extracranial artery | 11 (17.5) | 9 (14.3) | 13 (20.6) | 0.644 |
| Interval between randomization and treatment | 19 (16.0–22.0) | 18.5 (15.3–22.7) | 18 (15.0–21.3) | 0.536 |
| Interval between CAS and post-CAS scan, d | 1 (1–2) | 1 (1–2) | 1 (1–2) | 0.531 |
| DWI lesion on pretreatment scan‡ | 2 (3.2) | 2 (3.2) | 1 (1.6) | 0.814 |
Data are mean±SD, n (%), or median (IQR). CAS indicates carotid artery stenting; DWI, diffuse-weighted imaging; HDL, high-density lipoprotein; ICA, internal carotid artery; IQR, interquartile range; L, left; LDL, low-density lipoprotein; R, right; RIPC, remote ischemic preconditioning; and TG, triglyceride.
The degrees of stenosis are calculated according to the NASCET (North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial) method.
Intracranial artery including intracranial segments of internal carotid artery and vertebral artery, basilar artery and main stems of anterior cerebral artery, middle cerebral artery, and posterior cerebral artery; extracranial artery including common carotid artery, subclavian artery, extracranial segment of vertebral artery, and innominate artery.
To reduce the risk of hemorrhage after CAS, the scans were evaluated by interventionists to determine whether the operation should be postponed.