Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 28, 2025
Portable Thermographic Screening for Detection of Acute Wallenberg's Syndrome
Published on: September 19, 2019
Clinical Features, Risk Factors, and Early Prognosis for Wallerian Degeneration in the Descending Pyramidal Tract
Xiaolu Zheng1, Yang Zhang1, Yi Man2
1Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Background:
Wallerian degeneration(WD) occurs in the descending pyramidal tract(DPT) after cerebral infarction commonly, but studies of its degree evaluation, influencing factors and effects on nervous function are still limited.
Objectives:
The purpose of this study was to describe these findings and estimate their clinical significance.
Methods:
In total, 133 patients confirmed acute cerebral infarction and restricted diffusion in the DPT of the cerebral peduncle by MRI scans. These cases were retrospectively reviewed. We describe their clinical characteristics and analyze influence factors of WD, including the timespan from symptom onset to MRI and TOAST classification. Their NIHSS scores at admission and first 7 days NIHSS improvement rate after admission were also analyzed.
Results:
These patients were divided into three groups by timespan ≤7 days(n = 45),7-14 days(n = 70) and >14 days(n = 18). The mean WD degree (%)of these three groups was 44.41 ± 22.51,52.35 ± 22.61and 44.31 ± 19.35,respectively(p = 0.122).According to the TOAST classification, the mean WD degree(%) of the cardioembolism group(n = 28, 62.80 ± 25.12) was significantly different from both the large-artery atherosclerosis group(n = 73,45.08 ± 20.03,p = 0.000) and the small-vessel occlusion group(n = 23,39.68 ± 16.95,p = 0.000). The mean NIHSS score upon admission of the WD degree≤50% group(n = 82,8.17 ± 5.87) was different from that of the >50% group(n = 51,11.31 ± 7.00)(p = 0.006). However, the mean 7 days NIHSS improvement rate(%) of the WD degree≤50% group(n = 79,11.83 ± 23.76)and >50% group(n = 50,13.40 ± 27.88) was not significantly different(p = 0.733).
Conclusions:
Early WD in ischemic stroke patients has a correlation with serious baseline functional defects. Therefore, we should give close attention to imaging change, especially in those with cardioembolism .
