Abstract
The natural history of intracranial arterial dissection (ICAD) is not known precisely, so that treatment strategy is hard to determine in some cases. We examined the clinical features, treatment and long-term outcomes in the ICAD of ischemic onset.
Among 214 consecutive patients with ICAD [199 in the vertebrobasilar system (VBs) and 15 in the internal carotid system (ICs)], 76 presented with brain ischemia. Those were classified into 2 groups: 63 in the VBs and 13 in the ICs. We analyzed age, site of dissection, progression or recurrence of ischemia, medical and surgical treatment, and long-term outcomes. The outcomes were evaluated by modified Rankin disability scale (mRS). Good outcome was defined as mRS 0 to 2.
Results: 1) The patients were younger in the ICs (mean: 44.8 years) than in the VBs (mean: 53.0 years). 2) The vertebral artery was mostly affected in both arterial systems. 3) The acute stage progression or recurrence of ischemia was observed in 37% of the VBs and 54% of the ICs. The progression or recurrence is more frequent in the patients of the VBs with antithrombotic therapy (p=0.0224). 4) Treatment: Medical treatment was performed in 94% of the VBs and in all of the ICs. In addition, antithrombotic agents were prescribed in 38% of the VBs and in 85% of the ICs. Four patients (6%) of the VBs were surgically treated because of enlargement of the aneurysmal dilatation on follow-up study of MRI/MRA or 3D-CT angiography. 5) Long-term outcomes: In the medical group, good outcomes were achieved in 77% of the VBs and all of the ICs. In the VBs, the patients with antithrombotic therapy had poorer outcomes than those without the therapy (P=0.0399). All the patients in the surgical group had good outcomes in the VBs.
These results suggest that antithrombotic therapy might lead to the progression or recurrence of ICAD and a poorer outcome. This therapy should be selected prudently in the ICAD of ischemic onset, especially in the VBs.
