Temporality and factors associated with the development of a cerebral infarction in patients with cervical artery dissection

Abstract

Cervical artery dissections (CAD) are the leading cause of ischemic stroke (CVA) in young people. The risk factors for stroke and the temporal relationship with CAD are not well characterized. Nor do we have a clinical-radiological classification that allows knowing the risk of stroke. To describe the associated factors and temporality of ACVi in patients with CAD. We performed a prospective study that included patients over 18 years of age, hospitalized for carotid and/or vertebral CAD between August 2009 and June 2017. CAD cases were diagnosed clinically and radiologically; ACVi was diagnosed when the imaging study demonstrated infarction. The Borgess Classification was used to characterize the CAD radiologically. For correlation studies, we used univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. We analyzed 163 patients with 182 CAD (60% vertebral and 40% carotid). 28 of 68 patients (41.2%) simultaneously had symptoms of dissection and ischemia. 60 of 68 patients (88%) presented symptoms of ischemia during the first week. CAD: Borgess type IB (p = 0.001; OR: 4.1; CI: 1.8-9.3), male (p < 0.001; OR: 0.2; CI: 0.06- 0.8) were significantly associated with ischemic strokes and oral contraceptives (p = 0.02; OR: 0.2; CI: 0.06-0.8). Stroke associated with CAD has a relatively low frequency. It is not related to the type of dissected artery. It mainly occurs not simultaneously with CAD and within the first week. The main associated factor for developing a stroke is arterial occlusion (Borgess type IB).1,8-9,3), male sex (p < 0.001; OR: 0.2; CI: 0.06-0.8) and oral contraceptives (p = 0.02; OR: 0.2; CI: 0.06-0.8).