Recanalization of vertebral artery dissection.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE We investigated the predictors and time course for recanalization after vertebral artery dissection. METHODS We prospectively studied 61 consecutive patients with confirmed diagnoses of vertebral artery dissection without intracerebral hemorrhage. Neuroimaging and clinical follow-up were performed at presentation and at 3, 6, and 12 months. RESULTS We included 61 patients with confirmed vertebral artery dissection; 19 were evaluated and followed up with conventional angiography, 24 with MR angiography, and 18 with CT angiography. Fifty-one patients had a stenotic dissection, 7 had an occlusive dissection, one had a double-lumen image, and 2 had a pseudoaneurysm. The estimated rate of complete recanalization after vertebral artery dissection was 45.9% at 3 months, 62.3% at 6 months, and 63.9% at 12 months. We found no association between outcome and complete or partial recanalization nor did we find any factors associated with recanalization. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that recanalization of vertebral artery dissection occurs mainly within the first 6 months after the onset of symptoms regardless of the location or pattern of the dissection.