The role of basilar artery hypoplasia in the posterior circulation ischemia in patients with bilateral embryonal posterior cerebral artery

Objective To investigate the contralateral embryonal development of basilar artery in patients with posterior cerebral artery, and clinical relevance of posterior circulation ischemia and basilar artery blood flow. Methods From March 2014 to May 2015, the patients in Neurology Department of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Baotou Medical College by 1.5 T or 3.0 T and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) confirmed for bilateral embryonal 40 patients with posterior cerebral artery were selected as the experimental group, 52 outpatients with dizziness head MRA showed no embryonal development of posterior cerebral artery and basilar artery normal were selected as control group. Basal artery diameter of all subjects in MRA original image was measured by using VolumeView software. Basilar artery blood flow velocity was detected by using Transcranial doppler ultrasonography (TCD) detection, and statistical analysis was carried out on the occurrence of posterior circulation ischemia. Results There was no difference between the two groups of patients with age and sexuality (all P values> 0.05), basal artery diameter was (1.98±0.20)mm and (3.40±0.47)mm, respectively(t=-19.602, P<0.01), basilar artery blood flow velocity was (36.0±5.6)cm/s and (56.0±7.0)cm/s, respectively(t=-14.788, P<0.01). The incidence rate of posterior circulation ischemia in experimental group(20.0%, 8/40) was higher than that in control group (1.9%, 1/52). There were significantly statistical differences between two groups(χ2=6.448, P<0.05). Conclusions Posterior circulation ischemia rate increases significantly in patients with bilateral embryonal posterior cerebral artery basilar artery hypoplasia. It is a risk factor for posterior circulation ischemia. Key words: Central nervous system vascular malformation; Posterior cerebral artery; Basilar artery; Magnetic resonance angiography; Ultrasonography, doppler, transcranial