Arterial hypertension as risk factor for spontaneous cervical artery dissection. A case–control study. Issue 1 (16th December 2005)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pezzini, A; Caso, V; Zanferrari, C; Del Zotto, E; Paciaroni, M; Bertolino, C; Grassi, M; Agnelli, G; Padovani, A
• Is Part Of: Journal of neurology, neurosurgery and psychiatry. Volume 77:Issue 1(2006)
• Page Start: 95
• Page End: 97
• Publication Date: 2005-12-16
• Subjects: CAD, cervical artery dissection -- CI, confidence interval -- ICAD, internal carotid artery dissection -- OR, odds ratio -- s, spontaneous -- VAD, vertebral artery dissection; arterial hypertension -- cerebral ischaemia -- cervical artery dissection; Neurology -- Periodicals; Nervous system -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1136/jnnp.2005.063107
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-3050

Abstract

Abstract : Because of the presumed non-atherosclerotic pathogenesis, the potential link between spontaneous cervical artery dissection (sCAD) and common risk factors for atherosclerosis has never been investigated systematically. Therefore, this prospective, multicentre, case–control study compared the frequency of tobacco use, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and hypercholesterolaemia among a group of consecutive patients with sCAD (n = 153), a group of patients with ischaemic stroke, not related to CAD (non-CAD), and a group of controls. As opposed to the other variables, a trend towards a significant association was seen when the prevalence of hypertension was compared among patients with sCAD and controls (26.8% v 17.0%; odds ratio (OR) 1.79; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.98 to 3.27; p = 0.058). Hypertension was also significantly associated with the subgroup of patients with sCAD and cerebral infarction (OR, 1.94; 95% CI, 1.01 to 3.70; p = 0.045), particularly when involving the vertebral arteries (OR, 2.69; 95% CI, 1.20 to 6.04; p = 0.017). These findings might help define the spectrum of pathogenic conditions predisposing to sCAD and provide information to help investigate the combined effect of such susceptibility factors in future studies.