Is vertebral artery dissection hereditary?
Genetic Factors Foremost among the heritable connective tissue disorders that are associated with an increased risk of spontaneous dissections of the vertebral arteries is Ehlers-Danlos syndrome type IV33).
Is carotid artery dissection hereditary?
Dissection of the internal carotid artery can occur intracranially or extracranially, with the latter being more frequent. Internal carotid artery dissection can be caused by major or minor trauma, or it can be spontaneous, in which case, genetic, familial, or heritable disorders are likely etiologies.
Who is at risk for vertebral artery dissection?
[4][5][6]Blunt trauma to the neck is the most common reported precipitating event. Patients with connective tissue disorders are also at increased risk. Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is the most common connective tissue disorder that can cause vertebral artery dissection.
What causes dissection of vertebral artery?
Vertebral artery dissection (VAD) is a flap-like tear of the inner lining of the vertebral artery, which is located in the neck and supplies blood to the brain….
| Vertebral artery dissection | |
|---|---|
| Complications | Stroke, subarachnoid hemorrhage |
| Causes | Trauma, Ehler’s Danlos syndrome, Marfan syndrome |
How common is a vertebral artery dissection?
Vertebral artery dissection (VAD) has an estimated incidence of around 1.0 per 100,000 [ 1 ] and is slightly more common in females with average age affected in the fifth decade [ 2 , 3 ]. VAD can be spontaneous or can follow blunt cervical trauma.
How serious is an arterial dissection?
Overview. Spontaneous coronary artery dissection — sometimes referred to as SCAD — is an emergency condition that occurs when a tear forms in a blood vessel in the heart. SCAD can slow or block blood flow to the heart, causing a heart attack, heart rhythm problems (arrythmias) or sudden death.
How do you heal a vertebral artery dissection?
First-line treatment for cervical artery dissection usually is antiplatelet agents (such as aspirin) or anti-coagulation to prevent the formation of blood clots. Antiplatelet drugs such as aspirin or clopidogrel may used alone or in combination.
How serious is artery dissection?
How common is vertebral artery dissection?
What is vertebral artery dissection?
Vertebral artery dissection, like arterial dissection elsewhere, is a result of blood entering the media through a tear in the intima of the vertebral artery. It is potentially lethal and can be difficult to diagnose clinically and radiologically.
What is the rate of incidence for vertebral artery dissection?
It is estimated that vertebral artery dissection is the cause of approximately 2% of all ischemic strokes. However, in middle-aged and younger patients (30 to 45 years of age), it is believed to be as high as 10% to 25%, representing a significant population affected by this condition.
What is the prevalence of carotid artery dissection?
Spontaneous dissections of the carotid and vertebral artery account for only about 2 percent of all ischemic strokes 3, 12, 30, 34), but they are an important cause of ischemic stroke in young and middle-aged patients and account for 10 to 25 percent of such cases.
Which age groups are at highest risk for vertebral artery dissection?
Spontaneous dissections of the vertebral arteries affect all age groups, including children, but there is a distinct peak in the fifth decade of life 3, 34, 35). Although there is no overall sex-based predilection, women are on average about five years younger than men at the time of the dissection 34).