The Effect of Posterior Communicating Artery and Fetal Posterior Cerebral Artery Anomalies on Prognosis in Endovascular and Thrombolytic Therapy Patients

INTRODUCTION: Acute reperfusion therapy is a critical intervention for stroke patients, aiming to restore blood flow. The presence of anatomical anomalies, such as fetal posterior cerebral artery (fPCA) and posterior communicating artery (PCOM) variations, can impact treatment outcomes and patient prognosis. This study seeks to assess the potential influence of these anomalies on patients undergoing acute reperfusion therapy.
METHODS: Demographic characteristics of patients who underwent acute reperfusion therapy for stroke were considered among three distinct groups: the Posterior Communicating Artery (PCOM) group, fetal Posterior Cerebral Artery (fPCA) group, and Control group. The demographic attributes examined for each group encompassed gender distribution, mean ages, presence of comorbidities, TICI, NIHSS and ECAS II scores. The significance of differences in these attributes among the groups was assessed.
RESULTS: The study included a total of 106 patients, with 42 patients in the PCOM group, 31 patients in the fPCA group, and 33 patients in the Control group. No significant differences were observed among the groups in terms of demographic data. The greatest decrease in NIHSS at 24th hour was observed in the PCOM group, while the least decrease at 7th day was observed in the fPCA group. No differences were detected in NIHSS values at 24th hour and 7th day among the groups. When the groups' 24th hour CT scans were evaluated according to ECASS II criteria, no significant differences were observed among the groups. Hemorrhage was not observed in 52.4% of patients in the PCOM group and in 66.7% of patients in the control group.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: It was evaluated the impact of fPCA and PCOM anomalies on patients undergoing acute reperfusion therapy for stroke. While no significant demographic differences were found among groups, the study highlights the importance of further research to better understand their potential impact on treatment outcomes.