Abstract:Objective To investigate the clinical features and prognosis of patients with acute posterior circulation infarction and severe stenosis or occlusion of both vertebral arteries/basilar artery.Methods A retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of patients with acute posterior circulation infarction and severe stenosis or occlusion of both vertebral arteries/basilar artery. The vascular risk factors, initial symptoms, treatment, and disease evolution were analyzed. The patients were followed up for 90 days, and a modified Rankin Scale score of >2 was defined as poor prognosis.Results A total of 28 patients were enrolled, and the most common initial symptom was isolated dizziness or vertigo, which occurred in 57.1% of all patients. Of all patients, 53.6% experienced aggravation, and 9 (32.1%) had ≥ 2 times of aggravation; 15 (53.6%) had poor prognosis. Compared with the good prognosis group, the poor prognosis group had a significantly higher proportion of patients with grade 3 hypertension, aggravation, or ≥ 2 times of aggravation (P<0.05). Compared with the aggravation <2 times group, the aggravation ≥ 2 times group had a significantly higher proportion of patients with grade 3 hypertension, hyperlipidemia, an initial symptom of isolated vertigo/dizziness, poor prognosis, or death (P<0.05). The patients with no image of the basilar artery had a significantly higher mortality rate than those with the image of the basilar artery (75% vs 4.2%, P<0.05).Conclusions Patients with acute posterior circulation infarction and severe stenosis or occlusion of both vertebral arteries/basilar artery often have an initial symptom of isolated dizziness or vertigo. Patients with an initial symptom of isolated dizziness or vertigo and grade 3 hypertension tend to experience disease aggravation. Patients with frequent aggravation have a high proportion of patients with poor prognosis and a high mortality rate. Patients with no image of the basilar artery have a high mortality rate.