Analysis of the correlation between hemifacial spasm with different offending vessels and essential hypertension

Abstract

Objective To investigate the correlation between hemifacial spasm (HFS) with different offending vessels and essential hypertension (HTN). Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 267 patients of HFS who underwent microvascular decompression (MVD) from November 2015 to April 2017 at Neurosurgery Department of Affiliated Hospital of Logistics University of Chinese People’s Armed Police Force. A total of 88 cases had the comorbidity of HTN (HTN group), and 179 cases had no HTN (non-HTN group). The HFS patients were divided into 4 groups based on the offending vessels: anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) (n=114), posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) (n=85), vertebral artery (VA) (n=49) and multiple artery (MA) groups (n=19). Patients with HTN were also divided into 4 groups according to the offending vessels: HTN-AICA (n=32), HTN-PICA group (n=24), HTN-VA (n=22) and HTN-MA groups (n=10). The classifications as above were to analyze influencing factor of the incidence of HTN among HFS patients and correlation between HFS with different offending vessels and HTN by comparing the clinical data between HTN and non-HTN groups. Results There was no statistical difference in the sex, side of HFS, course of HFS, effect and recurrence at follow-up between HTN and non-HTN groups (all P >0.05). The patient’s age and onset age of HFS in HTN group was significantly higher than those in non-HTN group (both P 0.05), while the side of HFS was statistically different and there were more left-sided than right-sided patients in VA group (P =0.033). Conclusions The HFS onset age is suggested to be an influencing factor of the incidence of HTN. The proportion of HTN was higher in VA and MA groups, and left-sided VA patients are more likely to present comorbidity of HTN. Key words: Hemifacial spasm; Hypertension; Root cause analysis; Offending vessel