title: [Factors predisposing to cervical artery dissection].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cervical artery dissection is a major cause of cerebral ischemia in young adults and can lead to various clinical symptoms, some of which are benign (e.g. headache, neck pain, Horner's syndrome, and cranial nerve palsy). However, most patients have a stroke or transient ischemic attack.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The incidence of cervical artery dissection is low and is estimated to be around 2.6 per 100,000 inhabitants. Mortality and short-term recurrence rates are low: however; they may have been underestimated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Although the pathophysiology is still unclear constitutional and partly genetic susceptibility of the arterial wall has been proposed as a causal factor; triggered by infection or minor trauma. PREDISPOSING FACTORS: In addition to the trauma to the neck, other risk fractors have been suggested, such as infection, migraine, hyperhomocisteinamia, and the 67TT genotype of the 5,10-methylene-tetrahydrofolate reductase gene although evidence is sparse.
  Cervical artery dissection is now considered a multifactorial disease caused by several genetic abnormalities and environmental factors acting synergistically.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Research aimed at improving our understanding of the environmental and genetic factors predisposing to cervical artery dissection and assessment of long-term outcomes of this disease is needed. Better understanding of the underlying pathophysiology and the natural history of the disease through large prospective multicentre cohorts could also be helpful to improve therapeutic and preventive strategies. Several mutlticentre efforts are already under way to meet these needs.
authors: Klinicki centar Vojvodine, Novi Sad. ivanadns@sbb.rs
authors: Ivana
authors: I
authors: Divjak
authors: Petar
authors: P
authors: Slankamenac
authors: Mirjana
authors: M
authors: Jovićević
authors: Tamara Rabi
authors: TR
authors: Zikić
authors: Nemanja
authors: N
authors: Popović
mesh_terms: D020215:Carotid Artery, Internal, Dissection / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors; D020217:Vertebral Artery Dissection / Q000209:etiology*