Effects of Remote Ischemic Pre-Conditioning in Moyamoya Disease Patients

BACKGROUND: Brain ischemia and injury contributed to perioperative morbidity and mortality in revascularization surgery. Remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC), brief periods of ischemia followed by reperfusion, can provide systemic protection for prolonged ischemia. Previous study found combined remote ischemic pre- and post-conditioning can be effective in reducing neurologic complications and the duration of hospitalization in moyamoya patients undergoing direct revascularization.In order to investigate whether RIPC before EDAS can protect these patients from the perioperative and long-term complications, a prospective randomized controlled trial will be performed in the current study. DESIGNING: About 328 patients who are eligible for carotid artery stenting will be randomly assigned in 1:1 ratio to RIPC group and sham RIPC group (control). Remote limb ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) is consisted of five 5-min cycles of bilateral arm ischemia/reperfusion, it is induced by a sphygmomanometer placed on bilateral arm and inflated to 200 mmHg for 5-min followed by deflating the cuff for 5-min, patients in the RIPC group will do it twice a day for at least five days before EDAS. Patients in the sham RIPC group receive sham RIPC treatment, which is consisted of five 5-min cycles of bilateral arm ischemia/reperfusion, induced by a sphygmomanometer placed on bilateral arm and inflated to 60 mmHg for 5-min followed by deflating the cuff for 5-min, they will do it twice a day for at least five days before EDAS. Cerebral injury is assessed by plasma Human Soluble protein-100B (S-100B) and Neuron specific enolase (NSE). Clinical outcomes are determined by cerebrovascular events (including ischemic stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA), cerebral hemorrhage and transient neurological deficit) and death or dependent.