Abstract: Atherosclerosis is a systemic disease. Intracranial arteries are one of the most arteries which frequently involved by atherosclerosis. The 8%-10% patients with ischemic stroke is due to intracranial atherosclerosis. Intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis is also regarded as inflammatory process. Many studies have found that the oxidized low density lipoprotein(LDL-C) plays a key role in the process of atherosclerosis. The most frequently sites involved by atherosclerosis including the carotid-cavernous siphon, middle cerebral artery, intracranial vertebral artery and basilar artery. Recently, studies on intracranial atherosclerosis have obtained significantly progress in the field of epidemiology, natural history, pathophysiology and drug therapy, interventional therapy. In this review, we want to summarize the natural history of patient with the intracranial atherosclerosis.

Key words: Atherosclerosis; intracranial; Epidemiology; Natural history; Prognosis

摘要： 动脉粥样硬化是全身性疾病，颅内动脉也是动脉粥样硬化的好发部位。在所有的缺血性卒中患者中，8%～10%是由于颅内动脉粥样硬化性狭窄所致。颅内动脉粥样硬化性狭窄是一个炎症反应过程，近来认为氧化型低密度脂蛋白在动脉粥样硬化过程中的作用最强。颅内动脉粥样硬化的好发部位包括颈动脉海绵窦虹吸段、大脑中动脉主干、椎动脉邻近融合部和基底动脉。颅内动脉粥样硬化在流行病学、自然病程、病理生理及药物治疗、介入治疗等方面均有显著进展。本文对颅内动脉粥样硬化的自然病程做一综述。

关键词: 动脉粥样硬化; 颅内; 流行病学; 自然病程; 预后