Abstract
Abstract WP121: Pregnancy-Associated Cervical Artery Dissection: STOP-CAD Analysis
Stroke (1970), Vol.57(Suppl_1), WP121
02/2026
DOI: 10.1161/str.57.suppl_1.WP121
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Pregnancy and the postpartum period increase the risk of cervical artery dissection (CEAD), a notable cause of stroke in young women. We aimed to describe the clinical presentation, imaging findings, and outcomes of CEAD occurring during pregnancy or shortly after delivery.
Methods: We analyzed data from the STOP-CAD registry, a large international multicenter study of patients treated with antithrombotic therapy for non-traumatic CEAD between 2015 and 2021. This sub-study focused on women who were pregnant or within 12 weeks postpartum at the time of symptom onset. We assessed baseline clinical features, imaging results, acute stroke treatments, and functional outcomes.
Results: Among 1,783 women in the registry, 62 (3.5%) had pregnancy-associated CEAD, with a median age of 34 years (IQR, 30-38). One-third had a history of migraine (33.9%), one-fifth had hypertension (21.0%), while other vascular risk factors were rare. Recent minor neck trauma was reported in 17.7%.
Ischemic stroke symptoms occurred in 25 (40.3%) patients, and 23 (37.1%) had acute infarcts on imaging. However, most (59.7%) presented with non-ischemic symptoms. Vertebral artery dissections were more common than carotid dissections (62.9% vs. 48.4%), and 33.9% had multivessel involvement.
Among patients presenting with ischemic stroke symptoms, 4 received thrombolysis and 7 underwent thrombectomy. Remarkably, 92% had excellent functional recovery (modified Rankin Score 0-1) at 90 days, and there were no stroke recurrences at 180 days.
Conclusion: Pregnancy- and postpartum-associated CEAD is uncommon and associated with ischemic stroke in nearly half of patients. A history of migraine and hypertension may be potential risk factors. Despite the severity of presentation, most patients had favorable outcomes with timely treatment.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Abstract WP121: Pregnancy-Associated Cervical Artery Dissection: STOP-CAD Analysis
- Creators
- Balaji Krishnaiah - University of Tennessee at KnoxvilleSetareh Salehi Omran - University of Colorado DenverCheran Elangovan - University of Tennessee Health Science CenterLiqi Shu - Brown UniversityChristian Sidebottom - University of Tennessee Health Science CenterConner Lee - Bowdoin CollegeRoss Crandell - University of Colorado DenverEvan Lester - Cornell UniversityNils Henninger - UMass Memorial Medical CenterJayachandra Muppa - University of Massachusetts Chan Medical SchoolMuhammed Gunduz - Yale UniversityMirjam Heldner - University Hospital of BernAntonenko Katheryna - University Hospital of BernNehme Ahmad - Normandie UniversitéMuhib Khan - Mayo ClinicDania Mallick - Rhode Island HospitalAaron Rothstein - University of PennsylvaniaOssama Khazaal - Temple University HospitalJosefin Emelie Kaufmann - University Hospital of BaselStefan Engelter - University of BaselChristopher Traenka - University of BaselPreet Gandhi - University of British ColumbiaIssa Metanis - Hadassah Medical CenterRonen Leker - Hadassah Medical CenterRegina Von Renneberg - Charité - Universitätsmedizin BerlinReza Bavarsad Shahripour - University of California San DiegoXiaofan Guo - University of PittsburghMalik Ghannam - University of IowaMohammad AlMajali - University of IowaEdgar Samaniego - University of IowaAna Fonseca - Hospital de Santa MariaDiana Cruz - Administração Regional de Saúde de Lisboa e Vale do TejoMichele Romoli - Ospedale “M. Bufalini” di CesenaZafer Keser - Mayo ClinicZedde Marialuisa - Azienda Sanitaria Unità Locale di Reggio EmiliaBrian Mac Grory - Duke UniversityEkaterina Bakradze - University of Alabama at BirminghamFaddi Saleh Velez - University of OklahomaMary Penckofer - Cooper University HospitalJames Siegler - Cooper University HospitalJoshua Willey - Columbia UniversityAdeel Zubair - Yale UniversityJoao Pedro Marto - Hospital de Egas MonizPiers Klein - Boston Medical CenterThanh Nguyen - Boston Medical CenterFarid Khasiyev - Saint Leo UniversityAlexis Simpkins - Cedars-Sinai Medical CenterMarwa Elnazeir - University of LouisvilleShadi Yaghi - Hackensack Meridian Health
- Resource Type
- Abstract
- Publication Details
- Stroke (1970), Vol.57(Suppl_1), WP121
- DOI
- 10.1161/str.57.suppl_1.WP121
- ISSN
- 0039-2499
- eISSN
- 1524-4628
- Publisher
- Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; PHILADELPHIA
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 02/2026
- Academic Unit
- Neurology; Radiology; Iowa Neuroscience Institute; Neurosurgery
- Record Identifier
- 9985132206002771
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