Study on the correlation between vertebral artery dominance and posterior circulation infarction

ObjectiveTo investigate the correlation between vertebral artery dominance(VAD) and incidence rate of posterior circulation infarction(PCI), and risk factors of VAD patients complicated with PCI.

MethodsTwo hundred and eighty-six patients with acute cerebral infarction were divided into the anterior circulation infarction(ACI) group(178 cases) and posterior circulation infarction(PCI) group(98 cases).The incidence rate and occurrence side of VAD, and risk factors of ischemic cerebrovascular disease were compared between two groups.The infarction sites of PCI group were classified, and the incidence rate of PCI of different areas was compared between VAD and non-VAD patients.The correlation between bilateral vertebral artery diameter difference and NHISS score in posterior circulation infarction patients with VAD were analyzed.

ResultsThe differences of the age, gender and risk factors of common ischemic cerebrovascular disease were not statistically significant(P>0.05), the difference of the incidence rate of VAD between two groups was statistically significant(P<0.01), and the difference of the occurrence side of VAD was not statistically significant(P>0.05).In PCI group, the incidence rates of the infarction of posterior inferior cerebellar artery supply area and basilar artery supply region in VAD patients were higher than those in non-VAD patients(P<0.01 and P<0.05).Among the PCIS patients complicated with VAD, the diameter difference of bilateral vertebral artery was positively correlated with NHISS score(r=0.466, P<0.01).

ConclusionsWhen coexisting with other common cerebrovascular disease risk factors, VAD can be considered as a risk factor for PCI.Patients with VAD are more prone to infarction in the blood supply area of posterior inferior cerebellar artery and basilar artery.The greater the difference of bilateral vertebral artery diameter is, the worse the prognosis is.