To evaluate the vertebral artery dominance of the posterior circulation ischemia patients with color Doppler flow imaging

Abstract

Objective To evaluate hemodynamic features of vertebral artery dominance with color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI). Methods In all 260 patients of the posterior circulation ischemia who were from Jiangnan Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University from January 2012 to June 2015; Scaned vertebral and basilar arterial of all patuients by magnetic resonance angiography and judged vertebral artery dominance (VAD). Tested and measued the vertebral artery diameter (D), the maximum blood flow velocity (Vmax) and resistance index (RI) with CDFI. Compared dominant artery and non-dominant artery of patients of posterior circulation ischemia (PCI) with VAD and the differences between the indicator of hemodynamics of transient ischemic attack (TIA) and cerebral infarction patients in patients of PCI with VAD by t-test. Results In all patients posterior circulation ischemia, 179 patients (68.8%, 179/260) of the vertebral artery dominance and 81 patients (31.2%, 81/260) of non-vertebral artery dominance. In all patients of PCI with VAD, D dominant artery of increased than non-dominant [(3.53±0.33) mm vs (2.68±0.31) mm], and Vmax speeded up [(50.03±15.86) cm/s vs (43.78±13.63) cm/s], and RI reduced (0.66±0.08 vs 0.70±0.06), the differences were statistically significant (t=25.117, 3.999, 5.352, all P<0.01). In 179 cases of PCI with VAD, there were 58 cases of TIA and 121 cases of cerebral infarction. Vmax of dominant artery of cerebral infarction slowed than dominant artery of TIA [(43.48±19.31) cm/s vs (56.63±18.91) cm/s]; RI increased (0.75±0.12 vs 0.61±0.10). The differences was statistically significant (t=4.292, 7.693, both P<0.01). The differences of D was not statistically significant. The differences D, Vmax and RI of non-dominant artery between cerebral infarction and TIA was not statistically significant. Conclusions The blood vessel of vertebral artery dominance is one trait of high flow rates and low resistance; The advantage artery of vertebral artery is the major blood vessel that supplies blood to posterior circulation. The change of hemodynamic of advantage artery decides on different clinical outcomes of the posterior circulation ischemia. Key words: Ultrasonography, Doppler, color; Vertebral artery dominance; Posterior circulation ischemia