Diagnostic value of color-coded duplex sonography in patients with ischemic stroke and congenital changes in the circle of Willis

Publication date: Available online 11 February 2016 Source:Cor et Vasa Author(s): I. Staikov, I. Stoyanov, M. Staneva, N. Neykov, G. Kirova, P. Polomski, I. Petrov The circle of Willis (CoW) forms the main circulatory system in the human brain. A large number of variations of the CoW is known, and also their association with ischemic stroke. Three cases of young patients with combination of ischemic stroke and anomalies in the CoW are presented, and the value of the color-coded duplex sonography (CCDS) is compared to other imaging diagnostics such as magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and digital subtraction angiography (DSA). In these patients we found multiple risk factors such as stenosis or thrombosis of intracranial brain vessels, mechanical compression of vessels, a genetic mutation associated with an increased risk of thrombosis, and intake of oral contraceptives. For clinical evaluation several methods were used: detailed medical history, neurological status, laboratory examinations (complete blood count, biochemistry, lipid profile, HIV1/2, Syphilis RPR test), screening for markers associated with an increased risk of thrombosis, chest X-ray, spinal fluid study, CCDS, DSA, MRA. A full conformity in the data from CCDS and other imaging methods was found. The authors discuss the pathogenetic role of congenital anomalies of CoW, incidence of ischemic stroke and the high diagnostic value of CCDS for finding such anomalies.
Source: Cor et Vasa - Category: Cardiology Source Type: research