Vessel Wall MR Imaging to Explore Sex-Differences of Intracranial Arterial Wall Changes After Suspected Stroke

Despite advances in stroke care, women continue to face worse outcomes after stroke than men. This disparity in outcomes may be related to biologic sex-differences that manifest in the development and progression of atherosclerosis. Decades of cyclic changes in the hormonal milieu lead to different metabolic profiles in women. These changes may also explain sex-differences in risk factor profiles of atherogenesis and plaque composition. The investigators' objective is to conduct a cross-sectional MR imaging study of suspected stroke patients to compare the burden and composition of intracranial atherosclerosis and risk factors between men and women. Results from this study are expected to show that sex and sex-specific risk factors should be considered at the outset of stroke evaluation for risk-stratification. In the era of precision medicine, the investigators propose the role of sex should be a starting point in the clinical evaluation of stroke.

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Key information

Conditions

Intracranial Atherosclerosis Acute Stroke Arterial Occlusive Diseases Arteriosclerosis Brain Diseases Brain Ischemia Cardiovascular Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases Cerebrovascular Disorders Intracranial Arterial Diseases Intracranial Arteriosclerosis Ischemic Attack, Transient Nervous System Diseases Stroke Transient Ischemic Attack Vascular Diseases

Age range

18 year–100 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, United States

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Older than 18 years
Suspected stroke patients
No contraindications for an MRI exam or gadolinium intravenous contrast
No need for an emergent interventional treatment (e.g., thrombectomy)

Exclusion criteria

Younger than 18 years
Pregnant

Treatment and study plan

Primary outcomes

Prevalence of intracranial arterial wall abnormalities by sex.

Time frame: 1 day (Evaluated at time of clinical presentation).

Vessel wall imaging characteristics on multicontrast MR imaging

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Pennsylvania

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start: 2019
Primary completion: 2020
Study completion: 2021
First posted: Jun 19, 2019
Registry last updated: May 30, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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