To investigate the association between thyroid autoimmunity and spontaneous cervicocranial arterial dissection (SCCAD), including the anatomical distribution of dissections.
Approach:
Study Design: A retrospective, hospital-based case-control study was conducted with 164 patients with SCCAD and 164 healthy controls.
Analytical Methods: Multivariate logistic regression analyses, patient-level sensitivity analyses, propensity score matching, stratified analyses, and interaction tests were employed.
Key Findings:
SCCAD patients had significantly higher rates of thyroid autoimmunity positivity (OR 6.715; 95% CI: 1.589–28.377; P = 0.010).
Elevated TPOAb levels were associated with SCCAD (OR 5.999; 95% CI: 1.379–26.096; P = 0.017).
TPOAb levels showed a positive association with V4 segment involvement (OR 7.663; 95% CI: 1.443–40.680; P = 0.017) and an inverse association with V3 segment involvement (OR 0.065; 95% CI: 0.005–0.816; P = 0.034).
Interpretation:
Thyroid autoimmunity positivity and elevated TPOAb levels are associated with SCCAD, with segment-specific associations observed.
Limitations:
The study is retrospective and may be subject to selection bias.
Exclusion criteria may limit the generalizability of findings to broader populations.
Conclusion:
Thyroid autoimmunity and TPOAb levels are associated with SCCAD, with distinct associations noted for different arterial segments.
