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Updated: May 10, 2026

A Thrombotic Stroke Model Based On Transient Cerebral Hypoxia-ischemia
Published on: August 18, 2015
Retrograde embolism from the descending thoracic aorta causing stroke: an underappreciated clinical condition
Lovely Chhabra1, Rabin Niroula, Jayant Phadke
1Department of Internal Medicine, Saint Vincent Hospital, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01608, USA.
Abstract:
The mechanism of retrograde aortic blood flow is a complex and underreported clinical phenomenon. Complex plaques of the aortic arch are considered high-risk sources of cerebral emboli.(1) Aortic plaques situated in the descending thoracic aorta are however often overlooked and in fact can be more frequent potential sources of cerebral embolism through the mechanism of retrograde aortic blood flow. We present the case of an elderly Caucasian female who experienced recurrent posterior circulation embolic strokes where the only possible underlying etiology was found to be an atheroma in the descending thoracic aorta, possibly showering retrograde emboli.
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