ABSTRACT
Objective:To investigate the influencing factors of fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) vascular hyperintensity (FVH) and its impacts on outcomes in patients with posterior cerebral artery infarction.Methods:Consecutive patients with posterior cerebral artery infarction admitted to the Department of Neurology, Fuyang Hospital of Anhui Medical University from January 2019 to December 2021 were retrospective enrolled. Demographic and clinical data of patients were collected. The modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score was used to evaluate the outcomes at 3 months after the onset. 0-2 were defined as good outcomes, and >2 were defined as poor outcomes. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the independent influencing factors of FVH and poor outcomes. Results:A total of 65 patients (46 males [70.8%], aged 71.25±10.06 years) with posterior cerebral artery infarction were enrolled. There were 14 patients (21.5%) in FVH positive group and 51 (78.5%) in FVH negative group; 45 (69.2%) had a good outcome, and 20 (30.8%) had a poor outcome. There were significant differences in hypertension, history of previous stroke or transient ischemic attack, pre-onset mRS score >1, and etiology of stroke between the FVH positive group and the FVH negative group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that there was a significant independent correlation between the pre-onset mRS score >1 and FVH positive (odds ratio 6.206, 95% confidence interval 1.463-26.328; P=0.013). There were significant differences in age, atrial fibrillation, history of previous stroke or transient ischemic attack, baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, FVH positive, and anticoagulant use between the good outcome group and the poor outcome group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that there was a significant independent correlation between FVH positive and poor outcomes (odds ratio 5.761, 95% confidence interval 1.477-22.466; P=0.012). Conclusion:The pre-onset mRS score >1 is independently associated with FVH positive, while FVH positive is independently associated with poor outcomes in patients with posterior cerebral artery infarction.