Objective: To explore the clinical features of patients with vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia (VBD).
Methods: Patients diagnosed with posterior circulation ischemia in our hospital from October 2008 to January 2012 were consecutively collected and were divided into the VBD group and the non-VBD (NVBD) group. Clinical manifestations, risk factors, hemodynamic parameters and neuroimaging features were collected.
Results: (1) Statistical difference was observed in dyslipidemia, hypertension and the history of diabetes in the two groups (P < 0.05). (2) The cerebral hemodynamic features of the VBD patients were as the following: decreased peak systolic velocity of vertebral artery and basilar artery and decreased systolic/diastolic ratio. Statistical difference was showed in the average peak flow velocity (Vm), pulsatility index (PI) and resistance index (RI) (P = 0.036, 0.032, 0.032, respectively). (3) The main clinical manifestations of VBD were ischemic cerebrovascular disease, hemorrhagic cerebrovascular disease, oppression, brain damage symptoms and hydrocephalus. (4) The diagnosis in most of the VBD patients was confirmed by neural imaging and MRI was the first choice.
Conclusion: The VBD patients have relative unique clinical features. MRI should be the first choice for neuroimaging.