Remote Ischemic Conditioning and Dynamic Cerebral Autoregulation in Patients With Intracranial and Extracranial Arteriosclerosis

The purpose of this study is to explore the effect of remote ischemic conditioning on the dynamic cerebral autoregulation in patients with intracranial and extracranial arteriosclerosis and the changes of dynamic cerebral autoregulation within 24 hours after remote ischemic conditioning.

In this study, patients with intracranial and extracranial arteriosclerosis were included. The experimental group received basic treatment and remote ischemic conditioning for 200mmHg to pressurize the upper arm of the healthy side for 5 minutes, relax for 5 minutes, and repeat 4 cycles. The control group received basic treatment and remote ischemic conditioning for 60mmHg to pressurize the upper arm of the healthy side for 5 minutes, relax for 5 minutes, and repeat 4 cycles. The dynamic cerebral autoregulation was measured before treatment, immediately after treatment, 6 hours after treatment and 24 hours after treatment in both groups. The investigators aimed to determine the effect of remote ischemic conditioning on the dynamic cerebral autoregulation in patients with intracranial and extracranial arteriosclerosis. The investigators hypothesized that remote ischemic conditioning would improve dynamic cerebral autoregulation in patients with intracranial and extracranial arteriosclerosis.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age≥18 years, \< 80 years, regardless of sex;
2. Patients with clinically definite diagnosis of intracranial and extracranial atherosclerosis.
3. Baseline Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) ≥8;
4. Be able to accept remote ischemic conditioning;
5. Bilateral temporal windows were well penetrated;
6. Signed and dated informed consent is obtained

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patients who undergo intravenous thrombolysis or endovascular treatment;
2. Patients with consciousness disorder or restlessness who cannot cooperate with dynamic cerebral autoregulation;
3. Patients whose stable cerebral blood flow velocity envelope cannot be obtained by transcranial Doppler ultrasound or whose cerebral blood vessels have not been detected;
4. Patients with severe arrhythmia (frequent ventricular or supraventricular arrhythmia diagnosed by 24 hours dynamic ECG), hyperthyroidism, severe anemia, unstable blood pressure and other factors affecting the hemodynamics;
5. CT shows cerebral hemorrhagic diseases: hemorrhagic stroke, epidural hematoma, subdural hematoma, intracranial hematoma, ventricular hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, etc;
6. Other intracranial lesions, such as cerebrovascular malformations, cerebral venous lesions, tumors and other diseases involving the brain craniocerebral planning for surgical treatment;
7. Other serious diseases and have a life expectancy of less than 3 months;
8. Serious blood system diseases or severe coagulation dysfunction;
9. Severe organ dysfunction or failure;
10. Previously received remote ischemic conditioning or similar treatment;
11. Contraindications of remote ischemic conditioning, such as severe soft tissue injury, fracture or vascular injury, peripheral vascular disease in the contralateral upper limb;
12. Unqualified laboratory test indicators: Aspartate aminotransferase or alanine aminotransferase was 3 times higher than the upper limit of normal range, serum creatinine was \> 265umol/l (\> 3mg/dl), platelet was \< 100×109/ l, international normalized ratio (INR), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), prothrombin time (PT) were above the upper limit of normal range;
13. Pregnant or lactating women;
14. Participating in other clinical investigators, or having participated in other clinical investigators within 3 months before enrollment;
15. Patients who do not follow up or have poor treatment compliance;
16. Other conditions deemed inappropriate for inclusion by the investigator