Аннотация:The aim was to assess the vascular properties of the vertebral arteries (VA) in healthy persons and to detect their possible impairments in patients with ischemic stroke in posterior circulation (PCIS) and patients with vertebrobasilar insufficiency (VBI). 39 patients with PCIS, 29 patients with VBI and 65 healthy voluntaries were included into the study. Wall thickness, systolic and diastolic diameters of the VA and the common carotid arteries were measured using ultrasonography and indexes characterizing elastic properties of vascular walls (compliance, distensibility, beta stiffness index) were calculated. As appose to the common
carotid arteries wall thickness, vessel diameter and stiffness of the VA were not significantly correlated with age. This finding might be linked with the difference
in the age-related remodeling processes in these arteries. Stiffness of the VA was significantly higher in patients with PSIC and VBI in comparison with healthy
voluntaries, and this stiffness increase could be a risk factor for PCIS.