Abstract: Objective To study the clinical features and prognosis in patients with severe basilar artery disease.Methods The clinical features and damaged location in 48 patients with serious stenosis or occlusion in basilar artery were assessed and followed-up 3 months later.The correlation between the clinical features and poor outcome was analysed.Results 19 patients had poor outcome and 4 patients died during 3 months.The most patients suffered from vertigo attack.12 patients presented conscious disturbance within 72 h after onset,and most of them had poor outcome(P<0.05).Conclusion The prognosis of basilar artery stenosis or occlusive disease is not as grave as previously thought.Vertigo occurs frequently,but dose not relate with poor outcome significantly.Consciousness in the initial stage maybe relate to outcome significantly.

Key words: basilar artery, cerebral infarction, risk factor, prognosis