Introduction and aim: Stenosis of the intracranial artery is one of etiopathogenetic factors of ischemic stroke. The study aimed at judging the risk of vascular events in patients with symptomatic and asymptomatic intracranial stenoses in the region of Ostrava. Methods: A prospective study involved all patients with intracranial stenosis detected using transcranial duplex sonography (TCCS), who had been examined in the Laboratory of Neurosonology within January 1998–June 2000. All the subjects were followed-up at 6-months’ intervals for the average period of 57.7 months (minimally for 52 months). During visits, passed vascular events were recorded, and TCCS examination was carried out. The annual risk of vascular events and annual mortality rate were calculated statistically, separately for symptomatic patients and asymptomatic ones. Results: The prospective study involved 70 patients with intracranial stenosis over 30 % according to transcranial duplex sonography – 58 symptomatic and 12 asymptomatic subjects. In the former group, vascular event had passed in 22 patients (38 %). Totally, 29 events – 13 strokes, 4 transitory ischemic attacks (TIA), and 12 coronary accidents were recorded in this group. Fifteen patients (26 %) died. In the latter group, 3 patients (25 %) had gone through vascular event – 1 stroke, 1 TIA, and 1 myocardial infarction. Two patients (17 %) died. The annual risks of stroke in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients were 4.9 % and 1.6 %, respectively. Conclusion: The annual risk of vascular event in patients with the intracranial artery stenosis in the region of Ostrava does not differ from that seen in other advanced countries. In contrast with carotid stenoses, however, there was recorded no decrease in the risk of vascular accident in the course of 5 years after stroke or TIA.

        Key words: stenosis, intracranial artery, risk of vascular event, cerebrovascular disease, transcranial duplex sonography