Two types of arteriopathies, arteriomegaly and aneurysms, frequently develop at diverse locations in vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia patients: A retrospective analysis and a meta-analysis
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Past studies have reported that vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia (VBD) patients may develop similar arteriopathies other than the vertebrobasilar system. However, the details of these VBD-related arteriopathies are still unclear.
METHODS: We retrospectively enrolled patients diagnosed with VBD at two stroke centers in Japan between January 2012 and December 2023. Arteries of the brain and the trunk were assessed for arteriopathies resembling VBD by computed tomography angiography. Vessel sizes were defined as the maximum diameter measured on the cross-sectional plane. Age, sex, and race-matched stroke patients were recruited as a control group. Arterial ectasias were subdivided into arteriomegaly, which was defined as diffuse ectasia more than 1.5 times the mean size of the controls, or focal ectasia (i.e., aneurysms). A systematic review of PubMed and Scopus was performed between the date of the databases' inception and June 2024 using the keywords (vertebrobasilar OR basilar OR vertebral) AND (dolichoectasia OR dolichoectatic OR serpentiform OR serpentine OR "fusiform aneurysm"). The prevalences of VBD-related vasculopathy at each anatomical location were meta-analyzed by a random-effect model.
RESULTS: Nineteen VBD patients were enrolled. Radiological data of the brain and the trunk were available in 19 and 7 patients. The median VBD size was 13.4 (IQR, 11.3-19.6) mm. The vessel sizes of the anterior circulation were significantly larger in VBD patients than in…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a meta-analysis, done in people. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid. Reported size: 19 participants or records.
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