RARE DISEASES MIMICKING ACUTE VERTEBROBASILAR ARTERY THROMBOSIS

Acute ischaemia of the vertebrobasilar circulation leads to a variety of clinical manifestation and is mostly due to cardiogenic or artery-t o-artery embolism. We describe four neurological emergency situations involving vertebrobasilar artery aclusion of other origins: basilar mi graine, extrinsic compression by rheumatoid inflammatory tissue, gener alized vasculitis in subacute rheumatic fever and basilar artery disse ction. The differential diagnosis of acute vertebrobasilar artery occl usion may have an important impact on patient management.