What is dissection of vertebral artery?

What is 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. After the tear, blood enters the arterial wall and forms a blood clot, thickening the artery wall and often impeding blood flow.

What is vertebral artery dissection symptoms?

The most common symptoms were dizziness/vertigo (58%), headache (51%) and neck pain (46%). Stroke was common (63%), especially with extracranial dissections (66% vs. 32%, p<0.0001), while TIA (14%) and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) (10%) were uncommon.

Can vertebral artery dissection heal itself?

Most dissections of the vertebral arteries heal spontaneously and especially, extracranial VADs generally carry a good prognosis.

How common is 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.

Is vertebral artery dissection serious?

For those patients that survive the initial dissection, the prognosis is usually good. Approximately 10% of patients die initially. In one clinical follow-up study, 80% achieved a full recovery. Death is typically secondary to extensive intracranial dissection, brainstem infarction, or subarachnoid hemorrhage.

What is the treatment for 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.

Can Covid cause vertebral artery dissection?

Herein, we report the first case of spontaneous bilateral vertebral artery dissection in a patient with COVID-19 infection. It is important for the physicians to be aware of different clinical manifestations of COVID-19 as we manage these patients with no historical experience, to provide adequate care.

What is the most common cause of 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.

How do you heal a vertebral artery dissection?

Can you live a normal life with FMD?

Most people with FMD have no symptoms and may lead normal lives without ever having a problem. For some, however, FMD symptoms depend on which arteries are affected: For arteries that supply the brain, stroke, neck pain or swishing or ringing sound in the ear can be symptoms.

How serious is FMD?

Fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) affects the artery walls, making them either too weak or too stiff. This can lead to serious complications, including arterial narrowing (stenosis), weakening/bulging (aneurysm) or tearing (dissection). At least 90 percent of adults with FMD are women.

Does FMD get worse over time?

In general, it is thought that FMD is not a rapidly progressive disease. This means that for most patients, the disease and its symptoms do not tend to worsen over time. Rarely, a patient may develop worsening or new symptoms, and there is a risk of developing a dissection (tear) of an artery over time.

Does FMD affect the eyes?

If you have FMD in the arteries leading to your brain (carotid), you may have: Headache. Dizziness. Blurred vision or temporary loss of vision.

What is the life expectancy of someone with fibromuscular dysplasia?

FMD is usually a life-long condition. However, researchers haven’t found any evidence that it decreases life expectancy, and many people with FMD live well into their 80s and 90s.

Is FMD life threatening?

Even without symptoms, FMD can lead to serious, potentially life-threatening complications. It can cause disease of the arteries that supply blood to the kidneys and brain. Some complications of FMD include: Changes in kidney function.

Can FMD cause neck pain?

Many patients have symptoms of neck pain, headaches, and raised blood pressure at presentation. Patients affected by FMD are also at greater risk of stroke and renal failure and other conse- quences of reduced blood supply to vital organs.

Can you live a normal life with fibromuscular dysplasia?

Fibromuscular dysplasia symptoms and risks Most people with FMD have no symptoms and may lead normal lives without ever having a problem. For some, however, FMD symptoms depend on which arteries are affected: For arteries that supply the brain, stroke, neck pain or swishing or ringing sound in the ear can be symptoms.

Who is most at risk for fibromuscular dysplasia?

Fibromuscular dysplasia is more common in women than it is in men. Age. Although it can affect people of any age, fibromuscular dysplasia tends to be diagnosed in people in their 50s.