Circle of Willis integrity in acute middle cerebral artery occlusion: does the posterior communicating artery matter?

Background: Collateral circulation is an important determinant of outcome in people with acute ischemic stroke due to large vessel occlusion (LVO).

Objective: To explore the impact of the circle of Willis (CW) anatomical characteristics ipsilateral to the occlusion site, particularly the posterior communicating artery (PComA) and the A1-portion of the anterior cerebral artery (A1-ACA), on stroke outcomes in a cohort of patients with LVO and middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion, undergoing endovascular thrombectomy (EVT).

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study performed in a comprehensive tertiary stroke center. The study population consisted of consecutive patients with LVO with proximal MCA occlusion (M1) between June 2016 and April 2021, undergoing EVT. Demographic, clinical, and imaging information was extracted from patient files. Patency and diameters of ipsilateral A1-ACA and PComA were manually measured on admission CT angiography images in the core laboratory.

Results: One hundred and five patients with LVO comprised the study cohort, mean age 72.3 years, 43.8% were male, mean National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score at admission 15.2. The cohort was grouped according to CW vessel characteristics. On univariate analysis, a well-developed PComA was associated with lower rates of hemorrhagic transformation (1.8% vs 14.3%, P=0.01) and a trend towards lower mortality rates (8.9% vs 20.4%, P=0.08).On multivariable regression analysis a well-developed PComA emerged as an independent predictor for survival (aOR=0.09, 95% CI 0.01 to 0.4 for survival at discharge, P=0.009, aOR=0.22, 95% CI 0.05 to 0.8 for survival at 90 days, P=0.02).

Conclusions: In a cohort of patients with LVO due to M1 occlusion undergoing EVT, a well-developed PComA was associated with significantly lower hemorrhagic transformation rates, a trend towards better functional outcomes, and independently predicted survival. Larger studies are needed to understand the differential effect of CW collateral conduits on stroke outcome and evaluate the practicality of incorporating such factors in the clinical decision-making process prior to EVT.