Carotid artery elongation (dolichoarteriopathy) and cerebral perfusion: results of a pilot study

Abstract

Among the causes of brain ischemia, including stroke, the impaired straightness of internal carotid arteries (ICAs) are considered. The article discusses modern views on the causes of ICA geometry disorders, their pathogenetic and hemodynamic significance, and a possible contribution to cerebral lesions.Aim. To study the relationship between the anomalies of ICA configuration and the brain perfusion parameters using cerebral multislice computed tomographic angiography.Material and methods. Seventeen patients after ischemic stroke who had ICA elongation on the contralateral side of infarction: 7 women aged 60-87 years (median [1st quartile; 3rd quartile]: 73 [64; 75]) and 10 men aged 54-80 years (62 [60; 73]). There were also 10 patients of the control group with normal ICA configuration on the contralateral side of infarction: 5 women aged 50-71 years (59 [50; 68]) and 5 men aged 55-81 years (58 [57; 62]). Brain multislice computed tomographic angiography and magnetic resonance imaging were performed. Results. A significant perfusion decrease within normal values in the blood systems of the elongated ICAs was established. The relationship between the degree of ICA elongation and the age of patients, in the absence of such for brain white matter lesions, was recorded. There is the need to continue the study to clarify the nature of the severity and causes of the revealed phenomena.