Association between fetal-type posterior cerebral artery variants and NIHSS-defined stroke severity in acute posterior circulation infarction
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Objective To investigate factors associated with stroke severity among patients with acute posterior circulation infarction (APCI) and to evaluate the association between fetal-type posterior cerebral artery (FTP) variants and NIHSS-defined stroke severity. Methods A retrospective cohort of patients diagnosed with APCI by cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was selected from the two participating hospitals. The cohort included 161 patients (114 men and 47 women; mean age, 68.12 ± 15.81 years), with a mean admission NIHSS score of 6.28 ± 2.50. Based on magnetic resonance angiography findings, patients were categorized into an FTP group and a non-FTP group. Demographic characteristics, clinical data, and stroke severity as assessed by the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) were compared between the two groups. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with moderate-to-severe stroke and to evaluate the association between FTP and NIHSS-defined stroke severity. Results Univariate analysis revealed significant differences between the mild and moderate-to-severe groups in fasting blood glucose (5.71 ± 2.06 vs. 7.15 ± 1.74 mmol/L, p = 0.021), uric acid (284.24 ± 85.38 vs. 345.87 ± 86.27 μmol/L, p = 0.019), and prevalence of FTP ( p < 0.001). Multivariable analysis showed that FTP was independently associated with moderate-to-severe stroke (adjusted OR = 5.604, 95% CI: 2.519–12.465, p < 0.001). There was a statistically significant difference in NIHSS scores between FTP and non-FTP patients (FTP: 8.55 ± 2.06 vs. non-FTP: 5.14 ± 1.84, p < 0.001). Conclusion Among patients with APCI, FTP was independently associated with greater admission NIHSS-defined stroke severity. FTP may be a potential imaging marker of severity, but the limitations of admission NIHSS in posterior-circulation stroke, unavailable quantitative imaging covariates, and the retrospective design require cautious interpretation and prospective multicenter validation.
Source: Frontiers in Neurology
Language: English
Subfield: Epidemiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,801
OpenAlex ID: W7204935408