Topography of Vertebral Artery Origin Plaques: Characteristics and Determinants

Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine : Official Journal of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
Marialaura SimonettoSebastian Koch

Abstract

Atherosclerotic plaques located at the vertebral artery ostium (VAo) are a mechanism for posterior circulation stroke, but little is known about VAo plaque topography and formation. In this study, we describe the topography of atherosclerotic plaques involving the origin of the vertebral artery (VA). Cross-sectional analyses of extracranial duplex studies were performed, and VAo plaques were classified based on their topography in 3 groups: (1) exclusively at the VA ostium; (2) predominantly subclavian, with extension into the vertebral ostium; and (3) predominantly ostial, with extension into the subclavian artery). Chi-square and analysis of variance tests were performed to investigate the association between VAo plaque topography and continuous and categorical variables, respectively. A total of 99 of 481 (21%) ultrasound duplex studies showed VAo plaques. The majority of the plaques (60%) were found to extend from the subclavian to the ostium. Plaques occurred more frequently at the medial wall of the VAo. No vascular risk factors were associated with plaque formation; however, women were more likely to have plaques involving predominantly or exclusively the VAo (P = .004). We describe 3 different patterns of VAo involvemen...Continue Reading

References

Jul 7, 2001·Stroke; a Journal of Cerebral Circulation·U G Schulz, P M Rothwell
Nov 4, 2004·Cerebrovascular Diseases·P-J TouboulUNKNOWN Advisory Board of the 3rd Watching the Risk Symposium 2004, 13th European Stroke Conference
Aug 7, 2008·Journal of Neuroimaging : Official Journal of the American Society of Neuroimaging·Sebastian KochAlejandro M Forteza
Jun 28, 2011·Stroke; a Journal of Cerebral Circulation·Aaron N StaymanRishi Gupta
Aug 20, 2011·Stroke; a Journal of Cerebral Circulation·Annette CompterUNKNOWN Second Manifestations of ARTerial disease (SMART) Study Group
Jul 22, 2014·International Journal of Stroke : Official Journal of the International Stroke Society·Gillian L Gordon PerueSebastian Koch
Jul 20, 2016·Quantitative Imaging in Medicine and Surgery·Stella Sin Yee Ho

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