Misshapen Arteries may Spell big Trouble
Reported March 1, 2005
(Ivanhoe Newswire) — An artery condition doctors have long considered not directly life threatening may actually be a lot more serious, find French investigators.
The researchers explain intracranial arterial dolichoectasia is a condition where the larger arteries in the brain become wider in diameter and longer. While the condition has remained a mystery, most doctors have attributed it to hardening of the arteries and dismissed its potential to cause harm in and of itself.
These investigators take exception with that view. A previous study conducted by the group already linked the condition to weakening of the main artery carrying blood away from the heart, known as an aortic aneurysm. Their newest research also suggests it plays a role in causing small vessel disease, which can lead to mini-strokes.
Using magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, the current study was conducted among 510 patients who suffered a stroke. Those with dolichoectasia were also found to have a significantly higher incidence of small vessel disease, and whats more, the severity of small vessel disease was directly related to the diameter of the main artery involved in the dolichoectasia.
Given the previous association with aortic aneurysm, the authors believe this new study also linking the condition to small vessel disease suggests they may have uncovered an entirely new cerebrovascular syndrome.
SOURCE: Annals of Neurology, published online Feb. 28, 2005