Addiction & Health

Addiction & Health

Cerebral Artery Stenosis Patterns in Ischemic Stroke Patients With and Without Opium Use

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Farhad Iranmanesh 1
Rostam Seifaddini 1
Majid Gholamian 1
Habibeh Ahmadipour 2
Mahdiyeh Khazaneha 3
Najmeh Motaghi 1
1 Department of Neurology, Neurology Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
2 Department of Health Research Center, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
3 Department of General Courses, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
10.22122/ahj.2026.200544.1630
Abstract
Introduction: Ischemic stroke is one of the most prevalent neurological disorders worldwide. Although several vascular risk factors have been identified for stroke, opium addiction has emerged as a potential contributing factor. This study aimed to compare the topography of cerebral arterial stenosis between opium-addicted and non-addicted patients with ischemic stroke.
Methods: This descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was conducted on patients diagnosed with ischemic stroke. A total of 99 patients, including 25 opium-addicted and 74 non-addicted individuals, were enrolled. Demographic and clinical characteristics were collected for all participants. Duplex ultrasonography of the cerebral arteries was performed, and the severity and anatomical distribution of arterial stenosis were assessed and recorded.
Results: Assessment of arterial stenosis revealed that 65.7% of patients had normal arteries, 21.2% had stenosis of less than 70%, and 13.1% had stenosis greater than 70%. The most frequently affected vessels were the internal carotid artery (ICA) (18.2%) and the middle cerebral artery (MCA) (6.1%). Opium addiction was significantly more prevalent among male patients (P = 0.03). Although the frequency of arterial stenosis was higher in opium-addicted patients compared to non-addicted patients, the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.49). Similarly, no significant difference was observed in the anatomical distribution of arterial stenosis between the two groups (P = 0.24). Older age (P = 0.025) and the presence of underlying cardiovascular disease (P = 0.01) were significantly associated with greater arterial stenosis severity.
Conclusion: Although cerebral arterial stenosis was more frequently observed among opium-addicted patients than non-addicted patients, the difference did not reach statistical significance. Advanced age and underlying cardiovascular diseases were significantly associated with increased severity of cerebral arterial stenosis.

Highlights

Farhad Iranmanesh(GoogleScholar)(Pubmed)

Keywords
Ischemic stroke
Opium addiction
Cerebral arteries
Arterial stenosis
Carotid stenosis
Duplex ultrasonography
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Addiction & Health

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 07 September 2026