Evaluation and Prediction of the Effect of EECP on HR-NICE Patients

Stroke is one of the most threatening causes of mortality and disability worldwide. High risk non-disabling ischemic cerebrovascular events (HR-NICE), defined by mild stroke complicating with greater than 50% atherosclerotic stenosis in intracranial or extracranial arteries, is more likely to develop severe stroke in future. Currently, the clinical treatment for HR-NICE patients is limited to dual antiplatelet therapy or endovascular treatment, both of which are taken controversially due to the side effect or high risk. Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) is an established non-invasive treatment for circulatory support. By inflating repeatedly and sequentially from calves to hips in the early diastolic phase of every cardiac cycle, EECP has been demonstrated to increase the shear stress of blood vessels, enhance the collateral circulation and improve brain perfusion in patients with stroke. However, few studies have devoted exclusively to patients with HR-NICE. It is not clear whether EECP can improve the clinical performance or reduce the rate of recurrent stroke in 90 days. In this trial, HR-NICE patients will be divided into two groups according to true or sham EECP treatment. Based on multi-model magnetic resonance imaging, the investigators explore the central neural characteristic before and after EECP treatment.

Due to the conventional impression that mild stroke would lead to a good recovery outcome rather than disability, it is easy for patients or clinicians to ignore or delay the secondary prevention therapy. However, the latest research findings indicate that these patients have a high risk of neurological deterioration within hours to days after the onset of the disease. The risk of recurrence within 90 days is much higher than normal people as well. These patients are at greater risk complicating with atherosclerotic stenosis of the large arteries. This study designs a randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial to observe the improvement effect of EECP in HR-NICE patients. Random numbers are used to divide HR-NICE patients into two groups with true or sham EECP treatment separately. All the patients and technicians are blind of the group assignments of the subjects except the therapist responsible for setting the parameters of each patient's treatment. By observing the difference of Stroke Impact Scale before and after a course of EECP treatment, the investigators explore its effect on symptom improvement in HR-NICE patients. Based on multi-model magnetic resonance imaging, hematological parameter detection and genetic test, it's comprehensive to clarify the central neural features and peripheral abnormalities of HR-NICE patients, so as to provide objective proof for efficacy evaluation of pre-existing neural damage. What's more, on the basis that neuroimaging characteristics and inflammatory factors have important effects on the progression of disease as well as the presentation of symptoms, this study intends to reveal the potential mechanism of EECP to improve performance of central neural system on different neuroimaging aspects and find sensitive neuroimaging biomarkers in predicting the therapeutic effect of EECP. This study is not only contributing to explore the validity of EECP on HR-NICE patients, but also exploring the intrinsic and peripheral mechanism for classifying sensitive population based on neuroimaging and other predictive markers.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* In accordance with the diagnostic criteria of Chinese Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Acute Ischemic Stroke 2018
* Patients who have had a clinically significant ischemic stroke for the first time and are currently stable
* Unilateral internal carotid artery or middle cerebral artery was confirmed for the first time as moderate to severe stenosis (≥50%) or occlusion on digital subtraction angiography examination （DSA）.
* Did not receive surgical treatment such as balloon dilation
* National Institute of Health stroke scale (NIHSS) score ≤3
* The clinical data is completed and be able to consistently complete the study
* Age 18-80, education level≥ 6 years and agree to sign informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

* Progressive stroke
* Diseases with severe damage to other organs
* Moderate to severe aortic insufficiency
* Dissection aneurysm, aortic aneurysm, cerebral aneurysm
* Significant pulmonary hypertension
* Various bleeding disorders, bleeding tendencies, or use of anticoagulants, Prothrombin international normalized ratio （INR） \>2.0
* Active phlebitis, venous embolism, venous thrombosis of lower extremity
* The presence of infection in the body
* Valvular disease, congenital heart disease, cardiomyopathy
* Uncontrolled hypertension (\>170/110mmHg)
* Uncontrolled arrhythmia
* Left heart failure
* Pregnancy
* Patients with cardiac pacemakers
* Patients with arterial clamp after craniocerebral operation
* Patients with metal implants, such as metal joints, shrapnel and orbital foreign bodies
* History of moderate to severe cognitive impairment or psychiatric disorders
* History of malignancy
* moyamoya patients
* Lower extremity arterial thrombosis