%0 Journal Article
%T Infarction Patterns in Posterior Cerebral Circulation: Etiology and Prognosis
%A T. Alloush
%A R. R. Moustafa
%A M. M. Fouad
%A H. Ahmed
%A M. Hamdy
%J Neuroscience & Medicine
%P 175-193
%@ 2158-2947
%D 2019
%I Scientific Research Publishing
%R 10.4236/nm.2019.103012
%X <strong>Study Objectives:</strong> About a quarter of strokes and transient ischemic attacks occur in the vertebrobasilar distribution. Vertebrobasilar stroke is particularly prone to devastating consequences especially brain stem infarctions due to damage of the regional brain tissues that contain vital centers, and is associated with high rates of death and disability. <strong>Study Design:</strong> This was across sectional observational prospective hospital-based study conducted on 60 patients with first-ever acute posterior circulation ischemic stroke. The aim of the current study was to determine the relationship between different risk factors and different infarction patterns in posterior circulation; single small lacunar lesion, single large lesion, or multiple scattered lesions. Diagnosis of ischemic stroke and stroke subtypes were defined using the Trial of ORG 10,172 in Acute Stroke Treatment (TOAST) criteria as well as clinical and brain imaging features. Stroke severity using National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score was done on admission, after 24 hours from admission, and at 7 days from onset of symptoms. The patients functional status was assessed by modified Rankin scale (mRS) done on admission and on discharge from hospital and at 7-day follow up from onset of symptoms. Patients were classified according to infarction patterns into a single small lacunar lesion (group I), a single large lesion (group II), and multiple scattered lesions (group III) 20 patients in each group. <strong>Results:</strong> There was no significant difference between the three groups as regard the presence of vascular risk factors and the only significant difference as regard vascular risk factors was atrial fibrillation (AF). There was significant difference between the three groups as regard the occurrence of previous transient ischemic attacks (TIA). There was significant difference between the three groups as regard NIHSS score on admission, after 24 hours, and at 7 days from admission. There were significant differences between the three groups as regard mRS score at discharge and at 7-day follow up from the onset of symptoms and the degree of improvement from admission to discharge. There was significant difference between the three groups as regard volume of infarction in Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Group II and group III patients had larger volumes of infarction when compared to group I patients. There was no significant difference between the three groups as regard presence of significant intracranial stenosis in magnetic
%K Posterior Circulation Stroke
%K Risk Factors for Stroke
%K National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS)
%K Modified Rankin Scale (mRS)
%K Echocardiography
%K Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Angiography
%K Carotid Duplex
%U http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=93906