Correlation between the characteristics of vertebrobasilar artery on magnetic resonance angiography and isolated vertigo

Objective To investigate the correlation between the morphological characteristics of vertebrobasilar artery on magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and isolated vertigo. Methods The patients with isolated vertigo were enrolled retrospectively as a case group. Other patients without vertigo were selected over the same period as a control group. The clinical data and MRA data were collected. Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to identify the independent risk factors for isolated vertigo. Results A total of 118 patients with isolated vertigo and 179 controls were enrolled. Univariate analysis showed that there were significant differences in left vertebral artery bending degree, basilar artery stenosis rate, previous stroke, dolichoectatic basilar artery, and left and right vertebral artery hypoplasia between the two groups (all P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that previous vertigo (odds ratio [OR] 6.177, 95%confidence interval [CI] 1.945-19.620; P=0.002), more serious left vertebral artery bending (OR 1.860, 95% CI 1.127-3.069; P=0.015), and left vertebral artery hypoplasia (OR 4.543, 95% CI 1.761-11.721; P=0.002) were the independent risk factors for isolated vertigo, and previous stroke (OR 0.377, 95% CI 0.162-0.877; P=0.024), basal artery hypoplasia (OR 0.401, 95% CI 0.193-0.830; P=0.014) were its protective factors. Conclusions Previous vertigo, more serious left vertebral artery bending, and left vertebral artery hypoplasia are the independent risk factors for isolated vertigo, and previous stroke and basal artery hypoplasia may be its protective factors. Key words: Vertigo; Stroke; Brain Ischemia; Basilar Artery; Vertebral Artery; Magnetic Resonance Angiography; Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency; Risk Factors