Dataset Information

Increased risk for posterior circulation ischaemia in patients with vertebral artery hypoplasia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Although several study protocols reported that vertebral artery hypoplasia can predispose to posterior circulation ischaemia, the role of vertebral artery hypoplasia in the risk of posterior circulation ischaemia still remains controversial. The aim of the present meta-analysis was to investigate the association of vertebral artery hypoplasia and posterior circulation ischaemia.

Patients and methods

We performed a systematic review and random effects meta-analysis of all eligible observational study protocols reporting prevalence rates of vertebral artery hypoplasia in patients with anterior circulation ischaemia and posterior circulation ischaemia.

Results

We identified eight study protocols including a total of 3875 acute ischemic stroke patients (mean age: 64.2 years, 61.3% males) and reporting a pooled prevalence of vertebral artery hypoplasia 18.6% (95%CI: 10.8-30.0%). In the overall analysis, a significantly higher probability of vertebral artery hypoplasia presence was found in posterior circulation ischaemia patients compared to patients with anterior circulation ischaemia (risk ratio?=?2.12, 95%CI: 1.60-2.82, p?2?=?0%, p for Cochran Q?=?0.55) between included studies.

Discussion

The present report is a meta-analysis of retrospective observational study protocols, with all the inherent limitations of included studies. The heterogeneity on the reported rates of vertebral artery hypoplasia could be attributed to differences in population age, sex, race, imaging protocols and vertebral artery hypoplasia definition between included studies.

Conclusion

Our meta-analysis provides further evidence for a possible causal relationship between vertebral artery hypoplasia and cryptogenic posterior circulation ischaemia, an association which undoubtedly deserves further investigation in future prospective study protocols.

SUBMITTER: Katsanos AH

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6453216 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Increased risk for posterior circulation ischaemia in patients with vertebral artery hypoplasia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Katsanos Aristeidis H AH Giannopoulos Sotirios S

European stroke journal 20170320 2

<h4>Introduction</h4>Although several study protocols reported that vertebral artery hypoplasia can predispose to posterior circulation ischaemia, the role of vertebral artery hypoplasia in the risk of posterior circulation ischaemia still remains controversial. The aim of the present meta-analysis was to investigate the association of vertebral artery hypoplasia and posterior circulation ischaemia.<h4>Patients and methods</h4>We performed a systematic review and random effects meta-analysis of ...[more]

PMID: 31008312

Similar Datasets

Project description:BACKGROUND:It is not clear whether the configuration of the posterior part of the circle of Willis (CW) depends on the proximal part of the vertebrobasilar system. Our aim is to evaluate the posterior part of CW in association with different size of vertebral arteries (VA) in healthy volunteers. MATERIALS AND METHODS:The present study was based on a sample of 923 healthy volunteers who were examined from 2013 through 2018. The duplex ultrasonographic examination of the extracranial vertebral (VA) and carotid arteries was performed. VA was defined as hypoplastic (VAH) when VA diameter in the entire course was less than 2.5 mm. All the participants underwent magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) examination. All the component vessels of the circle of Willis were assessed in each individual. We classified the posterior communicating artery (PCoA) as presence PCoA, absence/hypoplastic PCoA and fetal-type posterior circle of Willis (FCW) in which the major stem of the posterior cerebral artery (PCA) arises from ipsilateral internal carotid artery (ICA). The comparison of the posterior part of CW was made in subjects with normal VA and VAH of a different degree (communicating with basilar artery (VAH-BA) and not communicating with the basilar artery (VAH-PICA)). RESULTS:FCW was found in 15.9% of subjects, bilaterally-in 2.3%. FCW was more frequent in individuals with VAH than in those with normal VA (accordingly, 28.8% vs. 13.5%, p<0.001. Moreover FCW was recorded in 50% of the subjects with VA-PICA in comparison with 13.5% of those with normal VA and 22.8% with VAH-BA, p<0.005. On the contrary, absence/hypoplasia of both PCoA was mostly found in the group with normal VA in comparison with VAH-BA and VAH-PICA (accordingly, 50.7%, 38.6% and 12.5%, p<0.01). CONCLUSION:Individuals with VAH have a different pattern of the posterior part of CW in comparison with those with normal VA. With the increasing degree of VAH, the proportion of FCW increases, while the proportion of absence/hypoplastic of both PCoA decreases.

Dataset Information

Increased risk for posterior circulation ischaemia in patients with vertebral artery hypoplasia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction

Patients and methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion

Publications

Increased risk for posterior circulation ischaemia in patients with vertebral artery hypoplasia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Similar Datasets

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