Spontaneous Cervical Artery Dissection Research Articles

Peripheral inflammatory response in people after acute ischaemic stroke and isolated spontaneous cervical artery dissection.

The systemic inflammatory response following acute ischaemic stroke remains incompletely understood. We characterised the circulating inflammatory profile in 173 acute ischaemic stroke patients by measuring 65 cytokines and chemokines in plasma. Participants were grouped based on their inflammatory response, determined by high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels in the acute phase. We compared stroke patients' profiles with 42 people experiencing spontaneous cervical artery dissection without stroke. Furthermore, variations in cytokine levels among stroke aetiologies were analysed. Follow-up samples were collected in a subgroup of ischaemic stroke patients at three and twelve months. Ischaemic stroke patients had elevated plasma levels of HGF and SDF-1α, and lower IL-4 levels, compared to spontaneous cervical artery dissection patients without stroke. Aetiology-subgroup analysis revealed reduced levels of nine cytokines/chemokines (HGF, SDF-1α, IL-2R, CD30, TNF-RII, IL-16, MIF, APRIL, SCF), and elevated levels of IL-4 and MIP-1β, in spontaneous cervical artery dissection (with or without ischaemic stroke as levels were comparable between both groups) compared to other aetiologies. The majority of cytokine/chemokine levels remained stable across the study period. Our research indicates that stroke due to large artery atherosclerosis, cardioembolism, and small vessel occlusion triggers a stronger inflammatory response than spontaneous cervical artery dissection.

Elevated serum levels of anti-collagen type I antibodies in patients with spontaneous cervical artery dissection and ischemic stroke: a prospective multicenter study.

Spontaneous cervical artery dissection (sCAD) is a rare vasculopathy whose trigger is still unknown. We hypothesized that autoimmunity against components of the vascular wall might play a critical role in sCAD and examined anti-collagen type I antibodies in patients with sCAD, acute ischemic stroke, patients with thromboendarterectomy, and controls. Fifty-seven patients with sCAD (age 45.7 ± 10.2 years, female 18 (31.6%)) were prospectively enrolled in four German stroke centers. Blood samples were collected at baseline, at day 10 ± 3, and after 6 ± 1 months. Patients with ischemic stroke not related to CAD (n=54, age 56.7 ± 13.7 years, female 15 (27.8%)), healthy probands (n=80, age 57.4 ± 12.9 years, female 56 (70%)), and patients undergoing thromboendarterectomy of the carotid artery (n=9, age 70.7 ± 9.3 years, female 2 (22.2%)) served as controls. Anti-collagen type I antibodies were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). Patients with acute sCAD had higher serum levels of anti-collagen type I antibodies (33.9 ± 24.6 µg/ml) than probands (18.5 ± 11.0 µg/ml; p <0.001) but lower levels than patients with ischemic stroke not related to sCAD (47.8 ± 28.4 µg/ml; p=0.003). In patients with sCAD, serum levels of anti-collagen type I antibodies were similar in the acute, subacute, and chronic phase. Levels of anti-collagen type I antibodies significantly correlated with circulating collagen type I (rho=0.207, p=0.003). Anti-collagen type I antibodies seem not to represent a trigger for acute sCAD or ischemic stroke but may rather be linked to the metabolism and turnover of collagen type I.

Comparison of Aneurysmal and Non-Aneurysmal Spontaneous Cervical Artery Dissections in a Large Multicenter Cohort

Dissecting aneurysms in patients with spontaneous cervical artery dissections have, so far, been reported as “benign”, but more specific information is scarce. We aimed to elucidate (1) vascular risk factors, (2) local and ischemic symptoms, and (3) long-term prognosis compared to non-aneurysmal dissections. This case–control study included consecutive patients with spontaneous cervical artery dissection from three university hospitals in Switzerland and France, evaluated at baseline and at 3 months. In addition, further follow-ups were performed at the discretion of the treating physician. Dissecting aneurysms were diagnosed with duplex sonography, magnetic resonance angiography, and/or digital subtraction angiography. Of 1012 patients, 151 (14.9%) presented with 167 dissecting aneurysms at baseline (n = 103) or follow-up (n = 64). The median follow-up was 24.9 months (IQR: 6.8–60.8). Compared to patients without a dissecting aneurysm there were no significant differences in the vascular risk factors or local symptoms (91.4 vs. 89.8%). Ischemic strokes at baseline were less common (29.1% vs. 54.4%; OR: 0.41; 95% CI: 0.28–0.60) in patients with a dissecting aneurysm, even after correction for the degree of stenosis of the dissected arteries (OR: 0.53; 95% CI: 0.34–0.81). Patients with a dissecting aneurysm more often had a favorable clinical outcome (modified Rankin Scale Score of 0–1) at 3 months (80.6% vs. 54.5%). There was no significant difference in recurrent cerebrovascular events at 3 months or overall. The lower rate of ischemic strokes at baseline may reflect a different pathogenic mechanism, such as a smaller initial tear in the vessel wall or an increased vessel caliber from an early or primary intramural hematoma with a different shape.

Internal carotid artery dissection associated with acute dengue virus infection: a case report

Cervical artery dissections (CAD) can occur spontaneously or as a direct result of significant trauma. Viral infections, such as SARS-CoV2, influenza, and Epstein Barr, are risk factors for spontaneous CAD. Dengue virus infections have dramatically increased in recent decades, and Brazil is one of the endemic areas. The dengue virus can cause headache and neurological complications such as encephalitis, myelitis, Guillain-Barré syndrome, and myositis. No report has yet been found in the literature of dissection of the internal carotid artery secondary to dengue infection. Our objective is to report the case of a patient with dissection of the internal carotid artery associated with acute dengue virus infection.

Abstract TP173: Differential Outcomes and Treatment in Vertebral versus Carotid Artery Dissections: A National Inpatient Sample Study

Introduction: Cervical artery dissection (CAD) involves the carotid (CCAD) or vertebral artery (VCAD). However, limited studies have compared their clinical features and outcomes. Our study utilized a comprehensive nationwide database to discern these differences. Method: We examined non-traumatic CAD-diagnosed patients from the U.S. National Inpatient Sample (2005-2019) using ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes. The evaluation included patient demographics, comorbidities, in-hospital complications, treatment, and costs. Differences between CCAD and VCAD were assessed using survey-weighted stepwise backward logistic regression, followed by propensity score matched adjusted regressions for outcomes. Result: From 2005 to 2019, we identified 157,086 CAD admissions, of which 79.9% (125,477) were spontaneous CADs, with CCAD outnumbering VCAD (67,671 vs. 57,806). Compared to VCAD, CCAD was significantly associated with older age (54 [44-66] vs. 49 [37-62]), Black race (12.6% vs. 8.7%), atrial fibrillation (6.1% vs. 3.7%), hypertension (58.0% vs. 53.9%), fewer concurrent acute ischemic strokes (AIS) (22.1% vs. 24.7%), higher NIHSS (mean NIHSS 7 [2-16] vs. 2 [0-5]), extended stays (4 days [2-8] vs. 4 days [2-7]) and increased hospitalization charges ($52,005 [$25,759-$118,806] vs. $43,199 [$24,116-$85,701]); all P&lt;0.05. Within the concurrent AIS group, the CCAD group also exhibited an increased likelihood for IV thrombolysis (10.7% vs. 5.7%) and mechanical thrombectomy (14.9% vs. 3.7%). After propensity score matching for NIHSS and age, the CCAD group was associated with less death (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.41, 95% CI 0.26-0.65, P&lt;0.001) but a similar home discharge rate (aOR 1.15, 95% CI 0.78-1.69, P=0.480) (Figure). Conclusion: Our study underscores distinct comorbidity profiles and treatment patterns between CCAD and VCAD groups. These findings advocate for tailored treatment strategies based on dissection type to optimize patient outcomes.

Abstract TP172: Rising Trends in Cervical Artery Dissection Admissions: A Nationwide Study From 2005 to 2019

Introduction: A recent regional study suggested an upward trend in the incidence rates of spontaneous cervical artery dissection (sCAD). Utilizing a comprehensive nationwide database, we investigated these trends on a national scale. Method: We analyzed adult patients diagnosed with sCAD in the United States National Inpatient Sample database from 2005 to 2019, employing validated standard ICD-9 and ICD-10 diagnostic codes. By integrating the survey-weighted annual total of CAD cases with annual Census data, we estimated the incidence over the study period. The annualized percentage change (APC) over the study period was estimated using regression models and visually represented with an exponential regression line. Trends were further stratified by sex, age group, and race. Result: From 2005 to 2019, we identified 557,063,391 patients, of whom 125,102 (0.02%) had non-traumatic CAD. The incidence of CAD increased from 10.5 cases per million population in 2005 to 45.5 cases per million population in 2019 ( P &lt; 0.001), revealing a significant increase in admissions with CAD. Regression analysis estimated an APC of 9.6%, with a 95% CI of 8.4% to 10.7% (P &lt; 0.001) (Figure). This upward trend persisted across all strata of sex, age, and race. Conclusion: Our nationwide analysis demonstrates a significant rise in admissions with CAD from 2005 to 2019 across all demographic groups. The change in trend could be attributed to greater disease awareness leading to more frequent coding of CAD diagnoses, and/or to increased use of CT angiogram coinciding with the rise of mechanical thrombectomy for stroke. This underscores CAD's increasing clinical prevalence, warranting further investigation into its causes, prevention, and treatment.

A narrative review on cervical artery dissection-related cranial nerve palsies.

This study aimed to emphasize the importance of cranial nerve (CN) palsies in spontaneous cervical artery dissection (sCeAD). A search term-based literature review was conducted on "cervical artery dissection" and "cranial nerve palsy." English and German articles published until October 2023 were considered. Cranial nerve (CN) palsy in sCeAD is evident in approximately 10% of cases. In the literature, isolated palsies of CN II, III, VII, IX, X, and XII have been reported, while CN XI palsy only occurs in combination with other lower cranial nerve palsies. Dissection type and mural hematoma localization are specific to affected CN as CN palsies of II or III are solely evident in those with steno-occlusive vessel pathologies located at more proximal segments of ICA, while those with CN palsies of IX, X, XI, and XII occur in expansive sCeAD at more distal segments. This dichotomization emphasizes the hypothesis of a different pathomechanism in CN palsy associated with sCeAD, one being hypoperfusion or microembolism (CN II, III, and VII) and the other being a local mass effect on surrounding tissue (CN IX, X, XI, and XII). Clinically, the distinction between peripheral palsies and those caused by brainstem infarction is difficult. This differentiation is key, as, according to the reviewed cases, peripheral cranial nerve palsies in sCeAD patients mostly resolve completely over time, while those due to brainstem stroke do not, making cerebrovascular imaging appraisal essential. It is important to consider dissections as a potential cause of peripheral CN palsies and to be aware of the appropriate diagnostic pathways. This awareness can help clinicians make an early diagnosis, offering the opportunity for primary stroke prevention.

Long-Term Course of Circulating Elastin, Collagen Type I, and Collagen Type III in Patients with Spontaneous Cervical Artery Dissection: a Prospective Multicenter Study.

An impaired integrity of vascular elements and the extracellular matrix (ECM) has been discussed to play a critical role in the pathophysiology of spontaneous cervical artery dissection (sCAD). This study aimed to explore the temporal course of circulating elastin, collagen type I, and collagen type III in patients with sCAD and evaluated their eligibility as diagnostic biomarkers. Patients with sCAD were prospectively enrolled in four German stroke centers. Blood samples were collected at baseline (acute phase), at day 10 ± 3 (subacute phase), and after 6 ± 1months (chronic phase). Patients with acute ischemic stroke not related to sCAD, healthy probands, and patients undergoing thromboendarterectomy of the carotid artery served as control groups. Serum levels of elastin and collagen types I and III were determined by ELISAs. Fifty-seven patients with sCAD were enrolled. Compared to all three control groups, patients with sCAD had significantly lower levels of elastin and collagen type III at baseline and after 6months. Compared to healthy probands, patients with sCAD showed similar collagen type I levels at baseline and in the subacute phase, but significantly increased levels after 6months. As serum levels of elastin, collagen types I and III were not elevated in the acute phase, they do not appear eligible as biomarkers for the diagnosis of sCAD. Persisting low serum levels of elastin and collagen type III towards the chronic phase of sCAD strengthens the hypothesis of a subtle, in most cases clinically inapparent affection of the ECM in patients with sCAD.

COVID-19 Does Not Increase the Risk of Spontaneous Cervical Artery Dissection.

Background Case reports have raised the possibility of an association between coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and spontaneous cervical artery dissection (sCeAD), yet no large studies have examined this association. We hypothesized that adults with confirmed COVID-19 would have an increased risk of sCeAD over the subsequent six months compared to test-negative controls after adjusting for confounding variables. Methods We obtained data from a United States medical records network (TriNetX, Inc., Cambridge, MA) of >106 million patients, providing adequate power needed for this rare outcome. We identified two cohorts of adults meeting the criteria of(1) test-confirmed COVID-19or (2) non-COVID-19 test-negative controls, from April 1, 2020, to December 31, 2022. Patients with previous COVID-19 or conditions predisposing to sCeAD were excluded. Propensity matching was used to control for variables associated with sCeAD and markers of healthcare utilization. Results The number of patients reduced from before matching (COVID-19: 491,592; non-COVID-19: 1,472,895) to after matching, resulting in 491,115 patients per cohort. After matching, there were 22 cases of sCeAD in the COVID-19 cohort (0.0045%) and 20 cases in the non-COVID-19 cohort (0.0041%), yielding a risk ratio of 1.10 (95% CI: 0.60-2.02; P= 0.7576). Both cohorts had a median of five healthcare visits during follow-up. Conclusions Our results suggest that COVID-19 is not a risk factor for sCeAD. This null finding alleviates the concern raised by initial case reports and may better direct future research efforts on this topic.

Pregnancy and spontaneous cervical artery dissection: A propensity-matched retrospective cohort study

ObjectivesWe hypothesized that pregnant women would have an increased risk of spontaneous cervical artery dissection (sCeAD) affecting the carotid or vertebral arteries over one-year follow-up after the first trimester ultrasound compared to matched non-pregnant controls. Materials and MethodsWe queried a United States research network (TriNetX, Inc.) of de-identified medical records of >111 million patients, with data spanning 2008-2023. We included women aged ≥18 and excluded those with trauma and conditions potentially causative of sCeAD. Women were divided into cohorts based on a1 first trimester ultrasound and subsequent labor, delivery, or full-term pregnancy, or2 gynecological examination and no pregnancy. We used propensity matching to control for variables associated with sCeAD and calculated the risk ratio (RR) of sCeAD occurring over one-year follow-up from the index date of ultrasound or gynecological exam. ResultsAfter matching, the incidence rate of sCeAD in the pregnancy cohort was 8.0 (95% CI: 8.0-8.1) per 100,000 person-years, compared to 3.9 (95% CI: 3.9-3.9) per 100,000 person-years in the non-pregnancy cohort, yielding an RR (95% CI) of 2.06 (1.17-3.61; P= .0104). A cumulative incidence graph suggested that most cases of sCeAD in the pregnancy cohort occurred during pregnancy rather than the postpartum period. ConclusionsOur findings demonstrate that women have a twofold increased risk of sCeAD during pregnancy and the postpartum period compared to non-pregnant women. Further research is needed to determine whether maternal comorbidities such as preeclampsia account for these findings, and clarify when sCeAD occurs in relation to pregnancy or the postpartum period.

Clinical characteristics and outcome in expansive compared with steno-occlusive mural hematoma in spontaneous cervical artery dissection.

Spontaneous cervical artery dissection (sCeAD) is one of the prime causes of ischemic stroke in young adults. Based on vessel wall imaging, steno-occlusive or expansive wall hematomas can be distinguished. It is unclear whether these two distinct morphological phenotypes reflect different pathophysiological processes. We aim to evaluate differences in clinical characteristics and long-term recurrence between patients with expansive and steno-occlusive mural wall hematoma in the acute phase. Participants of the ReSect-study, one of the largest single-center cohort studies with long-term follow-up of sCeAD patients, with sufficient magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were included. All available MRI scans were retrospectively evaluated for patients dichotomized to two groups: (1) mural hematoma causing steno-occlusive pathologies without expansion of total vessel diameter (steno-occlusive hematoma), and (2) mural hematoma causing vessel diameter expansion without lumen stenosis (expansive hematoma). Patients with mixed steno-occlusive and expansive vessel pathologies were excluded from the analysis. In total, 221 individuals were available for analysis. The pathognomonic vessel wall hematoma was steno-occlusive in 187 (84.6%) and expansive in 34 (15.4%). No difference was seen in patient demographics, clinical status at admission, laboratory parameters, family history, or the frequency of clinical stigmata for connective tissue disorders. Both patients with expansive and steno-occlusive mural hematoma had a high likelihood of suffering cerebral ischemia (64.7 vs 79.7). Still, time from symptom onset to diagnosis was significantly longer in those with expansive dissection (17.8 vs 7.8 days, p = 0.02). Those with expansive dissections were more likely to have upper respiratory infection within 4 weeks prior to dissection (26.5% vs 12.3%, p = 0.03). Upon follow-up, functional outcome was identical and groups did not differ in rate of sCeAD recurrence, but those with expansive mural hematoma at baseline more frequently had residual aneurysmal formation (41.2% vs 11.5%, p < 0.01). As cerebral ischemia was frequent in both, our clinical results do not advise for differential treatment or follow-up based on the acute morphological phenotype. There was no clear evidence of a different aetiopathogenesis between patients with steno-occlusive or expansive mural hematoma in the acute phase. More mechanistic approaches are needed to elucidate potential differences in pathomechanism between both entities. Anonymized data not published within this article will be made available by request from any qualified investigator.

Risk profile of patients with spontaneous cervical artery dissection.

Epidemiological data to characterize the individual risk profile of patients with spontaneous cervical artery dissection (sCeAD) are rather inconsistent. In the setting of the Italian Project on Stroke in Young Adults Cervical Artery Dissection (IPSYS CeAD), we compared the characteristics of 1,468 patients with sCeAD (mean age, 47.3±11.3; males, 56.7%) prospectively recruited at 39 Italian centres with those of 2 control groups, composed of 1) patients whose ischemic stroke was caused by mechanisms other than dissection (non-CeAD IS) selected from the prospective IPSYS registry and Brescia Stroke Registry and 2) stroke-free individuals selected from the staff members of participating hospitals, matched 1:1:1 by sex, age, and race. Compared to stroke-free subjects, sCeAD patients were more likely to be hypertensive (OR,1.65; 95%CI,1.37-1.98), to have personal history of migraine with aura (OR,2.45; 95%CI,1.74-3.34), without aura (OR,2.67; 95%CI,2.15-3.32) and family history of vascular disease in first-degree relatives (OR,1.69; 95%CI,1.39-2.05), and less likely to be diabetic (OR,0.65; 95%CI,0.47-0.91), hypercholesterolemic (OR,0.75; 95%CI,0.62-0.91), and obese (OR,0.41; 95%CI,0.31-0.54). Migraine without aura was also associated with sCeAD (OR,1.81; 95%CI,1.47-2.22) in comparison with patients with non-CeAD IS. In the subgroup of patients with migraine, sCeAD patients had higher frequency of migraine attacks and were less likely to take anti-migraine preventive medications, especially beta-blockers, compared with the other groups. The risk of sCeAD is influenced by migraine, especially migraine without aura, more than by other factors, increases with increasing frequency of attacks, and seems to be reduced by migraine preventive medications, namely beta-blockers. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

PREVALENCE AND DISEASE SPECTRUM OF FIBROMUSCULAR DYSPLASIA IN PATIENTS WITH SPONTANEOUS CEREBROVASCULAR ARTERY DISSECTION

Objective: Spontaneous cervical artery dissection (sCeAD) is the most frequent cause of ischemic stroke in young adults and has been associated to various arteriopathies, such as fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD). The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of both cervical and extra-cervical FMD in patients with a diagnosis of CeAD. Design and method: All patients discharged from the Stroke Unit of A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza of Turin from 2016 to 2020 with a diagnosis of CeAD underwent a contrast-enhanced CTA from chest to pelvis to look for FMD-related lesions (multifocal stenosis, aneurysms, dissections, arterial tortuosity). FMD diagnosis was assessed in the presence of at least a multifocal stenosis in one of the vascular beds explored. Results: Among 56 patients with spontaneous CeAD, 72.7% were male of middle age (52±8.5 y.o.). According to radiological findings, 43.2% of patients showed extra-cervical arterial lesions, with a prevalence of overall FMD (defined as the presence of at least a multifocal stenosis) reaching 47.3% of the studied sample and affecting carotid (36.4%), renal (18.9%), visceral (16.2%), iliac (22.2%) and coronary arteries (2.7%) respectively. Renal involvement included multifocal renal stenosis (13.5%) and arterial aneurysms (5.4%). Visceral involvement included multifocal stenosis (13.5%), visceral aneurysms (2.7%) and silent mesenteric artery dissection (5.4%). Iliac involvement included multifocal stenosis (2.7%), silent artery dissection (2.7%) and tortuosity (16.7%). Furthermore, two spontaneous dissections, one of the left external iliac artery and the other of the coeliac trunk, clinically asymptomatic, were reported in two males with no multifocal stenosis. Two women suffered also from SCAD. Multivascular extra-cervical involvement was observed in almost one third of the patients (27.0%) with sever lesions (multifocal high degree stenosis and/or arterial dissections) affecting 13.5% of the population. Conclusions: According to our results, we demonstrated that FMD is frequently associated to CeAD and that silent FMD-related lesions, even severe as arterial dissections, may coexist in such patients. Therefore, FMD should always be taken in consideration in the differential diagnosis of spontaneous arterial dissection, especially in young subjects without major cardiovascular risk factors.

Response-monitored dual anti-platelet treatment in a patient with spontaneous post-partum four-vessel cervical artery dissection.

Response-monitored dual anti-platelet treatment in a patient with spontaneous post-partum four-vessel cervical artery dissection.

Genetics of spontaneous cervical and coronary artery dissections.

Spontaneous cervical artery dissections (SCeAD) and coronary artery dissections (SCoAD) are major causes of neurovascular and cardiovascular morbidity in young adults. Although multiple aspects of their etiology are still unknown, most consensuses are focused on the presence of constitutional genetic aspects and environmental triggers. Since recent evidence of genetic contribution points to a possible overlap between these conditions, we aimed to describe current information on SCeAD and SCoAD genetics and their potential shared pathological aspects. A narrative review is presented. Publications in English and Spanish were queried using database search. The articles were evaluated by one team member in terms of inclusion criteria. After collecting, the articles were categorized based on scientific content. Given that patients with SCeAD and SCoAD rarely present connective tissue disorders, other genetic loci are probably responsible for the increased susceptibility in some individuals. The common variant rs9349379 at PHACTR1 gene is associated with predisposition to pathologies of the arterial wall, likely mediated by variations in Endothelin-1 (ET-1) levels. The risk of arterial dissection may be increased for those who carry the rs9349379(A) allele, associated with lower expression levels of ET-1; however, the local effect of this vasomotor imbalance remains unclear. Sex differences seen in SCeAD and SCoAD support a role for sex hormones that could modulate risk, tilting the delicate balance and forcing vasodilator actions to prevail over vasoconstriction due to a reduction in ET-1 expression. New evidence points to a common gene variation that could explain dissection in both the cervical and coronary vasculatures. To further confirm the risk conferred by the rs9349379 variant, genome wide association studies are warranted, hopefully in larger and ethnically diverse populations.

Long-term outcome of cervical artery dissection

ObjectiveThe aim of the study is to evaluate the natural history of extracranial cervical artery dissection (CAD) including comorbidities, symptoms at presentation, recurrence of symptoms, and long-term outcome following different treatment approaches. MethodsA retrospective review of patients treated for acute CAD was performed over a 5-year period from January 2017 to April 2022. ResultsThirty-nine patients were included in the study, 25 (64.1%) with acute internal carotid artery dissection and 14 (35.9%) with acute vertebral artery dissection. Thirty-four patients (87.1%) had spontaneous CAD, and five patients (12.8%) had traumatic CAD. The mean age of the cohort was 54.2 years. The mean time from symptom onset to presentation was 4.34 days. The most common symptoms in internal carotid artery dissection were unilateral weakness (44%), headache (44%), slurred speech (36%), facial droop (28%), unilateral paraesthesia (24%), neck pain (12%), visual disturbance (8%), and Horner’s syndrome (8%). The most common symptoms in vertebral artery dissection were headache (35.7%), neck pain (35.7%), vertigo (28.57%), ataxia (14.28%), and slurred speech (14.28%). The imaging modalities used for diagnosis included computed tomography angiography (48.7%), magnetic resonance angiography (41%), and duplex ultrasound (10.2%). In patients with carotid artery dissection, 57% had severe stenosis, 24% had moderate stenosis, and 20% had mild stenosis. All patients treated were managed conservatively with either anticoagulation or antiplatelets. Long-term clinical follow-up was available for 33 patients (84.6%). Thirty patients (90.9%) reported complete resolution of symptoms, and three patients (9%) reported persistent symptoms. Anatomic follow-up with imaging was available for 17 patients (43.58%). Thirteen patients (76.47%) had complete resolution of dissection, two patients (11.76%) had partial resolution of dissection, and two patients (11.76%) had persistent dissection. There was one death unrelated to CAD in a multi-trauma patient. There were four early recurrent symptoms in the first 3 to 8 weeks post discharge. The mean follow-up time was 308.27 days. ConclusionsThe majority of CADs can be managed conservatively with good clinical and anatomical outcome and low rates of recurrence.

Early ischemic recurrence in acute spontaneous cervical artery dissection

Background and PurposeEarly ischemic recurrence (EIR) following the diagnosis of acute spontaneous cervical artery dissection (CeAD) has been little investigated. We aimed to determine the prevalence and determinants on admission of EIR in a large single-center retrospective cohort study of patients with CeAD. MethodsEIR was defined as any ipsilateral clinical or radiological cerebral ischemia or intracranial artery occlusion, not present on admission and occurring within 2 weeks. CeAD location, degree of stenosis, circle of Willis support, presence of intraluminal thrombus, intracranial extension, and intracranial embolism were analyzed on initial imaging by 2 independent observers. Uni- and multivariate logistic regression was used to determine their association with EIR. ResultsTwo hundred thirty-three consecutive patients with 286 CeAD were included. EIR was observed in 21 patients (9%,95%CI=5–13%) with a median time from diagnosis of 1.5 days (range:0.1–14.0 days). No EIR was observed in CeAD without ischemic presentation or with less than 70% stenosis. In the remaining cases, poor circle of Willis (OR=8.5, CI95%=2.0–35.4, p = 0.003), CeAD extending to other intracranial arteries than just V4 (OR=6.8, CI95%=1.4–32.6, p = 0.017), cervical artery occlusion (OR=9.5, CI95%=1.2- 39.0, p = 0.031), and cervical intraluminal thrombus (OR=17.5, CI95%=3.0–101.7, p = 0.001) were independently associated with EIR. ConclusionsOur results suggests that EIR is more frequent than previously reported, and that its risk might be stratified on admission with a standard workup. In particular, the presence of a poor circle of Willis, intracranial extension (other than just V4), cervical occlusion, or cervical intraluminal thrombus are associated with high risk of EIR, for which specific management should be further evaluated.

Young Female with Recurrent Spontaneous Cervical Artery Dissection

Previous neurosonological study demonstrated the value of neurosonology in daily monitoring of the cervical artery dissection. This study showed rate of recurrence of 27 % in unaffected arteries. There are two group of recurrences, early and late. Early spontaneous cervical artery dissection (sCAD) recurrences are not uncommon and usually involve arteries previously unaffected by dissection. They are oligosymptomatic (headache or neck pain) or asymptomatic and might be correlated with a transient arterial disorder. Late sCAD recurrences are rare and can occur at site of previous sCAD and might be indicative of an underlying persistent connective tissue weakness. In this case report we present a 31- year old female patient who presented to emergency room because of headache and pain in the neck which started 3 days before. Initial brain CT scan and CT-angiography were normal. Next day she became disoriented and complained of headache, vertigo, nausea. Magnetic resonance of the brain showed little hematoma in quadrigeminal cistern and left vertebral artery dissection in V2 segment. Initial neurovascular ultrasound (nUS) showed dissection in V2 segment left vertebral artery. Next nUS after five days showed new dissection in V1 and V2 segment in right vertebral artery. Following nUS showed initial regression hematoma in both vertebral arteries. To conclude, early sCAD recurrences are not uncommon and usually involve arteries previously unaffected by dissection. Because of that it is important to daily neurosonology monitoring of the dissection.

Decline in spontaneous cervical artery dissection incidence during COVID-19 public health measures: Evidence for a role of upper respiratory infections in pathogenesis.

Upper respiratory infections have been suggested as a risk factor for spontaneous cervical artery dissection (sCeAD). If this is the case, public health measures implemented to contain the spread of SARS-CoV-2, which also reduced other communicable diseases such as influenza, might be associated with a reduction in cervical artery dissection incidence. We determined the incidence of sCeAD before, during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, and the associated public health measures. All patients suffering an sCeAD and seen in Innsbruck Austria, between January 2002 to December 2016 (pre-COVID comparators) and between January 2020 to August 2022 were recorded through two individual prospective cohort studies. We compared admission rates, demographic, and clinical characteristics of sCeAD patients in pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19 times. In total, 249 sCeAD patients were admitted prior to the COVID-19 pandemic compared to 20 during its course. Baseline characteristics of sCeAD subjects did not differ in subjects admitted during and prior to the pandemic. Following the introduction of public health measures for the pandemic, there was a marked decrease of sCeAD admissions from 16.5 per year to 6.3 per year (p = 0.012). Since the measures were ended the number of sCeAD admissions increased again. In contrast, the number of all ischemic stroke patients treated at the Medical University of Innsbruck did not alter during the pandemic. (N per year: 633 in 2015, 687 in 2017, 684 in 2019, 731 in 2020, and 717 in 2021). The incidence of sCeAD fell markedly during the pandemic and this may have resulted from the public health measures introduced and a subsequent reduction in upper respiratory infections. Our study provides indirect evidence for a role of infection in the pathogenesis of sCeAD. Anonymized data not published within this article will be made available by request from any qualified investigator.

Ultrasound Criteria for Diagnosing Spontaneous Cervical Artery Dissections.

Spontaneous dissection of brain-supplying cervical arteries, which also includes findings after minor injuries, is one of the main causes of ischaemic strokes in young adults. Strokes due to dissection are usually due to arterio-arterial embolism. They are rarely the first symptom of dissection because an intraluminal thrombus must first develop. Therefore, early diagnosis of dissection can contribute to stroke prevention - through immediate therapy with anticoagulants or antiplatelet drugs. This article describes the diagnostic criteria and typical findings of spontaneous dissection, in which no dissecting membrane is to be expected as in aortic dissection. Traumatic dissections following blunt or penetrating injuries also present with different findings. Examiners should be aware of possible differential diagnoses whose ultrasound image may mimic a dissection. A frequently occurring but avoidable cause of misdiagnosis is idiopathic carotidynia. Ultrasound also enables differentiation between dissection and vasculitis or carotid web and detection of normal variants such as fenestration of the vertebral artery. Further possibilities for misdiagnosis may arise in the presence of a variant of the ascending pharyngeal artery or in extracranial vasospasm. The different imaging techniques for the detection of a dissection are complementary, as false-negative findings occur with all techniques; no method serves as the gold standard. In any case, ultrasound can make an important contribution to the detection of a dissection, and it is worth knowing the diagnostic criteria.