Carotid Dolichoarteriopathy (Elongation) of the Carotid Arteries in Patients with Ischemic Stroke Anamnesis

Carotid artery elongation (ECA) is widespread in the asymptomatic population and among people with a history of ischemic stroke (IS). There are different points of view on the ways these changes contribute to brain ischemic damage pathogenesis. Materials and Methods: From 2019 to 2021, we included 1171 people who had suffered from IS less than one year before the investigation in the study, 404 (34.5%) women aged 27 to 95 years (64 +/- 13 years) and 767 men (21-90; 60 +/- 11 years). All patients involved in the study underwent multimodal radiological investigation in addition to assessments of their clinical and neurological data. Results: In this study, we were unable to detect a relationship between ECA localization and acute ischemic lesions. The frequency of ECA detection in patients with IS was the same as that in carotid and vertebral-basilar arterial systems. The prevalence of ECA was the same in patients with different IS subtypes (TOAST). There was no association between the localization of ECA and ischemic lesions; moreover, there were no differences in the IS frequency between anterior and posterior circulation. There were statistically significant decreases in linear peak systolic and end diastolic velocities in the internal carotid and vertebral arteries, as well as in the intracranial arteries in patients with ECA.

Automated summary

Carotid artery elongation is common in patients with ischemic stroke, but it is not directly associated with acute ischemic lesions. The prevalence of carotid artery elongation is the same among different types of stroke. Patients with carotid artery elongation have significantly decreased arterial velocities.