Association between Bilateral Vertebral Artery Blood Flow Changes and Posterior Circulation Infarction in Patients with Severe Intracranial Stenosis

Abstract

Plain Language SummaryThis study investigates the relationship between vertebral artery (VA) blood flow and posterior circulation infarctions (PCI), which are strokes in the back of the brain. VAs play a crucial role in supplying blood to this area. Using color duplex ultrasonography, we measured blood flow in 234 patients with severe VA narrowing (≥70%). These patients were divided into two groups: those who had experienced PCI and those who had not. We analyzed the correlation between blood flow in the VAs and various brain imaging data to understand the occurrence of PCI under different conditions. The findings showed that lower blood flow through the VAs was significantly associated with a higher risk of PCI, particularly in cases involving large artery atherosclerosis (a type of artery disease). However, this association was not observed in cases of branch artery occlusive disease. A detailed analysis revealed that for every 10 mL/min increase in blood flow, the risk of PCI decreased by 11%. This relationship also varied according to the patients’ blood glucose levels: patients with lower blood glucose levels showed a stronger link between increased blood flow and reduced PCI risk compared to those with moderate or high blood glucose levels. In conclusion, measuring the blood flow in the VAs can help identify patients at high risk of strokes in the back part of the brain. However, it is important to consider this measurement in combination with blood glucose levels to improve the identification of high-risk patients.