Possible Diagnostic Error in Cervical Artery Dissection: Analysis of STOP‐CAD Study

Journal of the American Heart Association 2026 Open access

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Authors: Ekaterina Bakradze, Liqi Shu, Shadi Yaghi, Thanh Lam Ngoc Tran, Ross Curtiss Crandal, Evan Lester, Daniel M Mandel, James Ernest Siegler, Mary Penckofer, Ava Leigh Liberman, Thalia S. Field, Farhan Khan
+31 more Wayneho Kam, Brian Mac Grory, Faddi G. Saleh Velez, Nils Henninger, Cheran Elangovan, Balaji Krishnaiah, Preet Gandhi, Reza Bavarsad Shahripour, Malik Ghannam, Mirjam R. Heldner, Kateryna Antonenko, Aaron Rothstein, Ronen R. Leker, Issa Metanis, Edgar Samaniego, Michele Romoli, Marialuisa Zedde, Rosario Pascarella, Thanh N. Nguyen, Piers Klein, Farid Khasiyev, Ossama Khazaal, Mohammad Almajali, Adeel Shakil Zubair, Marwa Elnazeir, João Pedro Marto, Ahmad Nehme, James Anthony Giles, Stefan T. Engelter, Christoph Stretz, Setareh Salehi Omran
DOI: 10.1161/jaha.125.046408
Cited by: 1
References: 16

Abstract

Background Cervical artery dissection (CeAD) is a common cause of stroke in young adults but is frequently misdiagnosed due to its nonspecific symptoms. This study examines factors associated with possible diagnostic error in CeAD and evaluates its impact on patient outcomes. Methods We conducted a secondary analysis of the STOP‐CAD (Antithrombotic Therapy for Stroke Prevention in Cervical Artery Dissection) study, which is a multicenter international study of adult patients admitted with CeAD. Possible diagnostic error was defined as the presence of CeAD symptoms within 30 days before the index CeAD diagnosis. The comparison group included patients diagnosed on their first medical encounter. Multivariable regression was used to identify factors associated with possible diagnostic error. Primary and secondary outcomes included ischemic stroke, death, and modified Rankin Scale score

Fields of Study & Subjects

Intracranial Aneurysms: Treatment and Complications Cervical and Thoracic Myelopathy Acute Ischemic Stroke Management

Publication details

Journal / source
Journal of the American Heart Association
Publisher
Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Volume
15
Issue
10
Pages
e046408–e046408
Publication date
14 May 2026
Language
EN