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Objective:To study the incidence and influencing factors for clinical deterioration at an early stage in patients with mild posterior circulation infarction (PCI).Methods:Totally 291 patients with mild PCI from January 1, 2016 to January 1, 2020 were retrospectively included. Clinical deterioration within 24 h (CD 24h) and clinical deterioration between 2 d and 14 d (CD 14d) were the endpoint events. IBM SPSS Statistics 19.0 software was used for statistical analysis. Pearson chi-square test or Mann-Whitney U test were used to compare the group differences of corresponding variables. Multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the influencing factors of the primary endpoint events. Results:The incidences of CD 24h and CD 14d were 21.6% (63/291) and 30.6% (89/291) respectively, with the reperfusion therapy rate of 13.4% (39/291). The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis with CD 24h as the endpoint event showed that the baseline NIHSS was a positive independent factor increasing the risk of CD 24h ( OR=1.184, 95% CI=1.078-1.300, P<0.01). Cerebellar infarction (compared with brainstem infarction) ( OR=0.250, 95% CI=0.082-0.757, P=0.014)and non-macroatherosclerosis (compared with major atherosclerosis) ( OR=0.026, 95% CI=0.002-0.325, P=0.005) had negative predictive effects on CD 24h. The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis with CD 14d as the endpoint event showed that pulmonary infection complications after stroke ( OR=28.085, 95% CI=6.863-114.927, P<0.01) and baseline NIHSS ( OR=1.114, 95% CI=1.001-1.240, P=0.048) were independent factors of CD 14d. Reperfusion therapy ( OR=0.089, 95% CI=0.013-0.613, P=0.014) could reduce the risk of CD 14d.Top of basilar syndrome(compared with single brainstem infarction) ( OR=7.526, 95% CI=1.565-36.188, P=0.012) increased the risk of CD 14d, while the non-macroatherosclerotic (compared with the macroatherosclerotic subtype) ( OR=0.076, 95% CI=0.009-0.683, P=0.021) negatively predicted the risk of CD 14d. Baseline NIHSS ( OR=0.834, 95% CI=0.758-0.918, P<0.01), CD 14d ( OR=0.048, 95% CI=0.018-0.130, P<0.01) and pulmonary infection complications ( OR=0.045, 95% CI=0.012-0.167, P<0.01) were negatively predicted the good clinical prognosis (modified Rankin score 14 days after onset ≤2). Conclusion:Early clinical deterioration has a negative predictive effect on clinical prognosis improvement of patients with mild PCI. Large artery atherosclerotic stenosis subtype and basilar apex syndrome are the risk factors of CD 24h and CD 14d of patients with mild PCI, and pulmonary infection is the risk factor of CD 14d. Reperfusion therapy in acute phase is helpful to reduce the risk of early clinical deterioration and improve clinical prognosis in patients with mild PCI.
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Objectives To evaluate the parameter changes of posterior circulation blood flow and wall shear stress in patients with vertebral artery hypoplasia (VAH) and to understand the possible mechanisms of VAH-induced posterior circulation infarction (PCI). Methods A total of 261 consecutive patients with suspected vascular vertigo admitted to the Department of Neurology, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou from October 2014 to January 2016 were enrolled. The vertigo symptom scale (VSS) was used to evaluate the severity of vertigo. All patients completed TCD and high field strength MR examination within 3 d of admission (Tl ,T2 weighted imaging,fluid attenuation inversion recovery [FLAIR] ,diffusion-weighted imaging [DWI],MR angiography [MRA], contrast-enhanced MRA [CEMRA]),and according to the diameter of the vertebral artery combined with the diagnostic criteria of VAH, they were divided into VAH group and non-VAH group, Posterior circulation blood flow velocity (systolic velocity [V,], diastolic velocity [Vd] , mean velocity [V]) , pulsatility index (PI) , resistance index (RI) , mean flow velocity (MFV) ,and wall shear stress (WSS) between the two group were analyzed. The paired or independent sample t test, Mann-Whitney U test and the 2 test were conducted with SPSS19.0 for intra-group or inter-group comparisons. Results Of 261 patients,78 (29.9%) had VAH,26 were complicated with basilar artery hypoplasia,37 were complicated with fetal type posterior circle of Willis,and posterior circulation infarction occurred in 48 (18. 4%). Compared with the non-VAH group, the degree of vertigo of patients was more severe in the VAH group(3[2,4] vs. 3[1,3] ,Z = 2. 29) ,and the incidence of posterior circulation infarction was significantly increased (25. 6% [20/78] vs. 13. 5% (28/183) ,x =5- 34)- The differences were statistically significant (all P 0. 05). Conclusions The incidence of VAH was higher in patients with vertigo and vascular risk factors. VAH affected the posterior circulation hemodynamics, which might be associated with the occurrence of PCI.
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Rotational vertebral artery occlusion syndrome, also known as Bow Hunter Syndrome (BHS), is a rare clinical syndrome that causes mechanical occlusion or stenosis of the vertebral artery during head and neck rotation or extension. Ischemia symptoms of the vertebral-basilar artery system often occur during head rotation and could rapidly improve with neutral position. In a few cases, BHS may result in arterio-arterial embolic infarction due to secondary thrombosis from intimai injury caused by repeated compression of the vertebral artery. The author reported a case of a young female patient with repeated posterior circulatory infarction caused by BHS. The patient suffered from sudden unresponsiveness,memory decline,and right limb inflexibility. There were no vascular risk factors in her past history,and no correlation between clinical symptoms and neck rotation. Neck rotation test by carotid ultrasound showed the blood flow of left vertebral artery was decreased and reversed when the neck rotated to the right. Head and neck CT angiography (CTA) and DSA examination showed left vertebral artery local protrusion at the junction of V3 and V4,which was considered as dissection or pseudoaneurysm. Left vertebral artery segment after axial transverse foramen was not visible on CTA during right head rotation. High resolution MR showed a membranous structure protruding into the lumen at the V3-V4 junction of the left vertebral artery. It is suggested that the clinical symptoms of BHS may be unrelated to neck rotation, but could only present as posterior circulation area infarction combined with ipsilateral vertebral artery imaging characteristics of limited range of dissection or pseudoaneurysm. Missed diagnosis and misdiagnosis may occur if the clinicians lack the corresponding understandings and knowledge. Therefore, in young patients with posterior circulation cryptogenic stroke,morphological changes of posterior circulation vessels should be carefully analyzed. If necessary,carotid ultrasound neck rotation test or dynamic DAS should be conducted to clarify whether BHS is involved.
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We present the case of a 38-year-old male who complained of repeated dizziness and syncope. Rotational vertebral artery syndrome (RVAS) was diagnosed via videonystagmoraphy (VNG), computed tomography angiography (CTA) and three-position digital subtraction angiography (DSA). In the neutral position, CTA and DSA revealed left vertebral artery (VA) stenosis at the C2 transverse foramen and right VA hypoplasia. When the head was turned to the right, the blood flow stopped at the C2 level. The bony structure around the VA at the C2 transverse foramen was decompressed via an anterior surgical approach, and the symptoms resolved. This case present the precise stenotic point evaluation by three-position DSA is crucial for the planning of surgical treatment.
Subject(s)
Adult , Humans , Male , Angiography , Angiography, Digital Subtraction , Constriction, Pathologic , Decompression , Dizziness , Head , Syncope , Vertebral ArteryABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the major risk factors for posterior circulation stroke and the clinical and imaging features of posterior circulation stroke patients with diabetes.Methods The patients with acute cerebral infarction were enrolled.The clinical data of patients with posterior circulation and anterior circulation stroke were compared.The patients with posterior circulation stroke were further divided into either a diabetic group or a non-diabetic group,and the vascular risk factors and imaging features of both groups were compared.The patients with posterior circulation stroke were divided into proximal segment,middle segment and distal segment and mixed groups according to the distribution of vascular lesions.The correlations between diabetes and each group and the imaging features were analyzed.Results A total of 328 patients with posterior circulation stroke (male 194,the diabetic group 108) and 336 patients with anterior circulation stroke (male 214,the diabetes group 59)were enrolled.The proportions of patients with diabetes (32.9％ vs.21.7％ ; x2 =10.501,P =0.001),hyperlipidemia (60.1％ vs.47.9％ ;x2 =9.852,P =0.002),previous stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) (29.0％ vs.22.0％ ;x2 =4.213,P =0.040) in the posterior circulation ischemic stroke group were significantly higher than those in the anterior circulation ischemic stroke group,and the proportion of smoking patients was significantly lower than that in the anterior circulation ischemic stroke group (18.3％ vs.26.2％ ; x2 =5.977,P =0.014).The levels of total cholesterol (4.72 ±1.07 mmol/L vs.4.56 ± 0.98 mmol/L; t =2.079,P =0.038),triglycerides (1.54 ± 1.07 mmol/L vs.1.33±0.71 mmol/L; t=3.085,P=0.002) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (2.91±0.90 mmol/L vs.2.75 ±0.80 mmol/L; t =2.373,P =0.018) were significantly higher than those in the anterior circulation ischemic stroke group,and the level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was significantly lower than that in the anterior circulation ischemic stroke group (1.13 ± 0.31 mmol/L vs.1.18 ±0.32 mmol/L; t =2.045,P=0.041).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that diabetes (odds ratio [OR] 1.560,95％ confidence interval [CI] 1.086-2.239; P =0.016) and previous stroke or TIA history (OR 1.455,95％ CI 1.013-2.090; P =0.042) were the independent risk factors for posterior circulation ischemic stroke.In patients with posterior circulation ischemic stroke,the patient's proportions of hyperllpidemia (66.7％ vs.55.5％ ;x2 =5.069,P =0.024) and drinking (13.0％ vs.4.5％;x2 =7.568,P=0.006) in the diabetic group (n =108) were significantly higher than those in the non-diabetic group (n =220); the proportion of atrial fibrillation patients was significantly lower than that in the non-diabetic group (3.7％ vs.11.4％ ;x2 =5.274,P =0.022).The levels of triglycerides (1.70 ± 0.93 rnmol/L vs.1.45 ± 1.11 mmol/L; t =1.989,P =0.048),fasting glucose (8.46 ± 2.96) mmol/L vs.5.30± 0.96 mmol/L; t=10.706,P=0.000) and glycosylated hemoglobin (8.36％ ± 1.94％ vs.6.07％ ± 0.55％ ; t =10.576,P =0.000) in the diabetic group were significantly higher than those in the non-diabetic group.The proportion of patients with large artery atherosclerosis stroke in the diabetic group was significantly higher than that in the non-diabetic group (73.1％ vs.60.0％; x2=5.457,P=0.019); the proportion of the patients with cardioembolism was significantly lower than that of the non-diabetic group (2.8％ vs.9.1％;x2 =4.428,P =0.035).The proportion of patients with posterior circulation middle segment infarction in the diabetic group was significantly higher than that of the non-diabetic group (49.1％ vs.31.4％ ;x2 =9.726,P =0.002).The proportions of the patients with brainstem infarction (60.2％ vs.48.2％ ;x2 =4.182,P =0.041) and single brainstem infarction (55.6％ vs.30.5％ ;x2 =19.235,P =0.000) in the diabetic group were significantly higher than those in the non-diabetic group.In patients with single brainstem infarction,the proportions of the patients with pontine infarction (43.5％ vs.25.9％ ;x2 =10.374,P =0.001) and medulla oblongata infarction (7.4％ vs.1.8％ ; P =0.023) in the diabetic group were significantly higher than those in the non-diabetic group.Conclusions Diabetes and previous stroke or TIA history are the independent risk factor for posterior circulation stroke.Diabetes is closely associated with brainstem infarction,and it is more likely to result in pontine infarction.
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BACKGROUND: Hyperintense vessel sign (HVS) on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery imaging (FLAIR) is an indicator of slow flow and early ischemia. This study tested the hypothesis that HVS in the posterior circulation is associated with a worse outcome. METHODS: We retrospectively included 64 stroke patients with posterior circulation steno-occlusion within 6 hours of symptom onset and reviewed early neurological deterioration (END). END was defined as an increase in National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score of 4 or more from baseline during the first week. We analyzed demographic and laboratory information followed by an assessment of the magnetic resonance images. In addition, we assessed the posterior circulation Albert Stroke Program Early CT Score (pc-ASPECTS) on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). RESULTS: Among the 64 patients who met the inclusion criteria, END was seen in 17 patients. On univariate analysis, these END patients had higher baseline NIHSS scores and elevated initial systolic blood pressure (iSBP). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed pc-ASPECTS (p=0.007), HVS on FLAIR (p=0.011), and iSBP (p=0.016) as independent predictors of END. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of HVS on FLAIR in the posterior circulation might indicate the presence of more severe ischemic penumbrae and END. pc-ASPECTS may also be an independent predictor of functional outcome.