[Vertebrobasilar arterial syndromes]

In a group of 60 cases of vertebrobasilar arterial syndromes and 60 cases of hemispheric focal lesions confirmed on autopsy the author analysed early clinical manifestations and the symptoms and signs in the acute period of the disease searching for differences between these syndromes. The statistical analysis showed that circulatory disturbances in the posterior part of the intracranial circulus arteriosus were significantly more frequently associated with occipital headaches, dizziness, equilibrium disturbances, sudden fall of visual acuity and atonic seizures. Apart from this, the author analysed also the early manifestations, symptoms and signs in the acute period of the disease and fully developed clinical picture of the vertebrobasilar arterial syndromes and suggested a tentative clinical classifications of these syndromes according to the location of the lesions in the upper, middle and lower segments of the basilar artery. The author has demonstrated that a careful analysis makes possible isolation of three syndromes: basilar artery trunk syndrome, basilar artery bifurcation syndrome and vertebral artery junction syndrome.