Atherosclerotic intracranial arterial stenosis represents a common cause of ischemic stroke. Patients with severe stenosis are at a high risk of recurrent stroke in the territory supplied by the stenotic artery. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting (PTAS) of intracranial arterial stenosis was increasingly used to prevent recurrent strokes. At the time of this study, there was uncertainty regarding the optimal treatment of intracranial arterial stenosis with aggressive medical therapy alone vs. in combination with PTAS.

To compare maximum medical therapy with PTAS for secondary ischemic stroke prevention in recently symptomatic patients with intracranial arterial stenosis.

Prospective, randomized study at 50 centers across the United States between 2008 and 2011.