Factors associated with prominent vessel sign on susceptibility-weighted imaging in acute ischemic stroke

The prominent vessel sign (PVS) on susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) is not displayed in all cases of acute ischemia. We aimed to investigate the factors associated with the presence of PVS in stroke patients. Consecutive ischemic stroke patients admitted within 24 h from symptom onset underwent emergency multimodal MRI at admission. Associated factors for the presence of PVS were analyzed using univariate analyses and multivariable logistic regression analyses. A total of 218 patients were enrolled. The occurrence rate of PVS was 55.5%. Univariate analyses showed significant differences between PVS-positive group and PVS-negative group in age, history of coronary heart disease, baseline NIHSS scores, total cholesterol, hemoglobin, anterior circulation infarct, large vessel occlusion, and cardioembolism. Multivariable logistic regression analyses revealed that the independent factors associated with PVS were anterior circulation infarct (odds ratio [OR] 13.7; 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.5–53.3), large vessel occlusion (OR 123.3; 95% CI 33.7–451.5), and cardioembolism (OR 5.6; 95% CI 2.1–15.3). Anterior circulation infarct, large vessel occlusion, and cardioembolism are independently associated with the presence of PVS on SWI.