Evaluation of the risk factors and clinical features of newly developing cerebral microbleeds following internal carotid artery stenting

Yasemin Dinc; Rıfat Özpar; Emel Oguz Akarsu; Furkan Sarıdas; Gizem Güllü; Mustafa Bakar; Bahattin Hakyemez

doi:10.55697/tnd.2026.585

Yasemin Dinc¹, Rıfat Özpar², Emel Oguz Akarsu¹, Furkan Sarıdas¹, Gizem Güllü¹, Mustafa Bakar¹, Bahattin Hakyemez²

¹Department of Neurology, Uludağ University Faculty of Medicine, Bursa, Türkiye
²Department of Radiology, Uludağ University Faculty of Medicine, Bursa, Türkiye

Keywords: Anemia, carotid artery stenting, cerebral microembolism, cerebral microhemorrhages.

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to characterize the clinical features of incident cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) following internal carotid artery (ICA) stenting and identify related risk factors.

Patients and methods: This retrospective observational study included 80 patients who underwent ICA stenting between January 2021 and June 2021. All patients underwent cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), diffusion MRI, arterial spin labelling perfusion MRI, and susceptibility-weighted imaging, which were performed before the ICA stenting procedure and 72 h after the procedure. Risk factors associated with CMBs were analyzed by comparing patients who developed new CMBs following ICA stenting with those who did not.

Results: The mean age of the patients was 64.95 ± 11.14 years. Fourteen patients (17.50%) were female, and 66 (82.50%) were male. New CMBs were detected in 25% of the patients following the ICA stenting procedure. A statistically significant association was found between the development of new CMBs and the presence of symptomatic ICA stenosis and anemia but not with any of the other parameters.

Conclusion: Considering the development of new CMBs as a potential predictor of intracranial hemorrhage may facilitate closer monitoring and the adoption of personalized treatment strategies for this patient population.

Cite this article as: Dinc Y, Özpar R, Oguz Akarsu E, Sarıdas F, Güllü G, Bakar M, et al. Evaluation of the risk factors and clinical features of newly developing cerebral microbleeds following internal carotid artery stenting. Turk J Neurol 2026;32(3):220-229. https://doi.org/10.55697/tnd.2026.585.