Cerebrovascular Disease

Welcome from the Division Director

We welcome you to the Division of Cerebrovascular Diseases at the University of Iowa Health Care!

The Division of Cerebrovascular Diseases at the University of Iowa is internationally known for our contributions to stroke care, such as the NIH Stroke Scale and the TOAST classification. We have the collective expertise to manage any of these cerebrovascular conditions with the most advanced recommendations and techniques available. In addition, we offer patients the opportunity to participate in clinical trials testing promising new therapies to further improve their outcomes. We are acutely aware of the existing barriers to stroke care in a large rural State like Iowa that has few and dispersed resources. Stroke is a time-dependent emergency where every minute counts. Being the only Joint Commission-Certified Comprehensive Stroke Center in the State Iowa, we know our responsibility to improve stroke and cerebrovascular care in the whole state. This includes providing acute care services to expedite treatment in our hospital and remotely helping other Iowa hospitals. It also involves clinic services to ensure patients receive the best prevention plan to mitigate the risk of further vascular events.

Thank you for visiting and taking an interest in our work.

Comprehensive Stroke Center

UI Hospitals & Clinics is designated as a Comprehensive Stroke Center, which means that we provide the highest level of care. We’ve also received Stroke Plus and Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite certifications from the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association.

Enrique C. Leira, MD, MS

Director of Cerebrovascular Diseases

Professor of Neurology
Department of Neurology

What are Cerebrovascular Diseases?

Our expertise spans a broad spectrum of cerebrovascular disorders, including:

Ischemic Stroke: A condition where a blood clot blocks or narrows an artery leading to the brain, causing a reduction in blood flow.
Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA): Often called a mini-stroke, it is a temporary period of symptoms similar to those of a stroke.
Spontaneous Brain Hemorrhage (Hemorrhagic Stroke): Occurs when a blood vessel in the brain bursts, leading to bleeding within the brain.
Cerebral Venous Thrombosis: A rare form of stroke that occurs when a blood clot forms in the brain's venous sinuses, preventing blood from draining out of the brain.

We also manage conditions such as:

Carotid or Vertebral Artery Narrowing: Caused by atherosclerosis (buildup of plaques) or dissection (tear in the artery wall), which can lead to reduced blood flow to the brain.
Vascular Malformations of the Brain: Abnormal connections between the arteries and veins in the brain, which can lead to bleeding or other complications.
Cerebral Aneurysms: Weak or thin spots on a blood vessel in the brain that can bulge and potentially rupture, causing a hemorrhagic stroke.

Our team comprises highly skilled professionals who have undergone extensive training and certification in their respective fields. This includes:

Vascular Neurologists: Experts in diagnosing and treating disorders of the blood vessels in the brain and spinal cord.
Neurointerventionalists: Specialists who perform minimally invasive procedures to treat vascular conditions in the brain and spine.
Neurocritical Care Specialists: Physicians who manage patients with life-threatening neurological and neurosurgical conditions in intensive care units.

Our comprehensive approach ensures that patients receive the most advanced and effective treatments available, tailored to their specific needs.