Carotid dissection with and without ischemic events: local symptoms and cerebral artery findings.
OBJECTIVE
To study whether spontaneous dissections of the cervical internal carotid artery dissection (ICAD) with and without ischemia of the brain or retina differ in the prevalence of vascular risk factors, local neurologic signs and symptoms, and stenoses and occlusions of the cerebral arteries.


METHODS
The authors prospectively studied 181 consecutive patients with 200 ICAD. Diagnosis was based on ultrasonography and MRI or catheter angiography. Vascular risk factors, presenting local (headache, neck pain, Horner syndrome, pulsatile tinnitus, cranial nerve palsy on the side of the ICAD) and ischemic signs and symptoms, and ultrasonographic findings in the carotid and basal cerebral arteries were evaluated.


RESULTS
ICAD with ischemic events (n = 145) had a higher prevalence of hypercholesterolemia (p < 0.05), >80% stenoses and occlusions of the ICA (p < 0.0001), and intracranial obstructions (p < 0.001). ICAD without ischemic events (n = 55) had a higher prevalence of Horner syndrome (p < 0.001), cranial nerve palsy (p < 0.01), and normal ICA findings (p < 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that ICAD causing high-grade stenosis and occlusion are more likely to lead to intracranial obstructions and cerebral or retinal ischemic events. Conversely, ICAD without luminal narrowing cause more local signs and symptoms.
Baumgartner
R W
RW
Department of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland. ralf.baumgartner@nos.usz.ch
Arnold
M
M
Baumgartner
I
I
Mosso
M
M
Gönner
F
F
Studer
A
A
Schroth
G
G
Schuknecht
B
B
Sturzenegger
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020215:Carotid Artery, Internal, Dissection / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002539:Cerebral Arterial Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic; D003389:Cranial Nerve Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D006732:Horner Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric