Vertebral artery orifice stenting may improve blood supply of the posterior circulation of the brain to regions such as the cerebellum and brainstem. However, previous studies have mainly focused on recovery of cerebral blood flow and perfusion in the posterior circulation after interventional
therapy. This study examined the effects of functional recovery of local brain tissue on cerebellar function remodeling using blood oxygen level-dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging before and after interventional
therapy. A total of 40 Chinese patients with severe unilateral vertebral artery orifice
stenosis were enrolled in this study. Patients were equally and randomly assigned to intervention and control groups. The control group received
drug treatment only. The intervention group received vertebral artery orifice angioplasty and stenting + identical
drug treatment to the control group. At 13 days
after treatment, the
Dizziness Handicap Inventory score was compared between the intervention and control groups. Cerebellar function remodeling was observed between the two groups using blood oxygen level-dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging. The improvement in
dizziness handicap and cerebellar function was more obvious in the intervention group than in the control group. Interventional
therapy for severe vertebral artery orifice
stenosis may effectively promote cerebellar function remodeling and exert
neuroprotective effects.