Quantifying intra-arterial verapamil response as a diagnostic tool for reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: There is mounting evidence supporting the benefit of intra-arterial administration of vasodilators in diagnosing reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome. We prospectively quantified the degree of luminal diameter dilation after intra-arterial administration of verapamil and its accuracy in diagnosing reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients suspected of having intracranial arteriopathy on noninvasive imaging and referred for digital subtraction angiography were enrolled in a prospective registry. Intra-arterial verapamil was administered in vascular territories with segmental irregularities. The caliber difference (Caliberpost - Caliberpre) and the proportion of caliber change ([(Caliberpost - Caliberpre)/Caliberpre] 100%) were used to determine the response to verapamil. The diagnosis of reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome was made on the basis of clinical and imaging features at a follow-up appointment, independent of the reversibility of verapamil. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to determine the best threshold. RESULTS: Twenty-six patients were included, and 9 (34.6%) were diagnosed with reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome. A total of 213 vascular segments were assessed on diagnostic angiography. Every patient with a final diagnosis of reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome responded to intra-arterial verapamil. The maximal proportion of change (P,.001), mean proportion of change (P ¼.002), maximal caliber difference (P ¼.004), and mean caliber difference (P ¼.001) were statistically different between patients with reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome and other vasculopathies. A maximal proportion of change $32% showed a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 88.2% to detect reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (area under the curve ¼ 0.951). The Reversible Cerebral Vasoconstriction Syndrome-2 score of $5 points achieved a lower area under the curve (0.908), with a sensitivity of 77.8% and a specificity of 94.1%. CONCLUSIONS: Objective measurement of the change in the arterial calibers after intra-arterial verapamil is accurate in distinguishing reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome from other vasculopathies. A proportion of change $32% has the best diagnostic performance.