Vertebral Artery Dissections With Concurrent Intracranial Hemorrhage: A Case Series of 13 Patients Among a Cohort of 301.

BACKGROUND

Vertebral artery dissections (VADs) are a rare cause of ischemic stroke that can occasionally lead to intracranial hemorrhage (ICH). This study aims to identify differences in predisposing factors, event characteristics, and outcomes between patients with only a VAD and patients with VAD and concomitant ICH.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective chart review of 301 patients who presented with VADs at our institution from 2004-2018. A total of 13 patients were identified with VAD and concomitant ICH. Data were collected on demographics, event characteristics, treatments, and neurologic outcomes, measured using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS).

RESULTS

VAD+ICH and VAD-only groups were similar in terms of age, sex, and recorded comorbidities. Additionally, etiology of the dissections did not seem to vary between groups (P = 0.6), even when selecting for traumatic causes such as motor vehicle accidents (P = 0.22) and violence (P = 0.25). Concomitant strokes and aneurysms/pseudoaneurysms occurred in similar proportions as well, but cervical fractures were more common in the VAD+ICH group (P = 0.003). Using the mRS as a measure of neurological outcome, we found that the VAD+ICH group had worse neurologic function at discharge, 3-month follow-up, and last follow-up (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients who experienced an ICH in addition to a VAD did not have any identifiable risk factors. Cervical spine fractures were more common in patients with VAD and ICH. VAD patients with a concomitant ICH have worse neurologic outcomes than patients with only a VAD.