The variations of continuous wave Doppler S/T index of internal carotid artery, reflecting changes of cerebral blood flow, were studied during an orthostatic test in elderly patients with typical orthostatic hypotension and in elderly patients with symptoms of cerebral ischemia when standing, but without diagnostic falls in blood pressure. The observation of a significant decrease of Doppler S/T index in both groups of patients confirms the hypothesis that a failure of cerebral postural blood flow regulation may be a primary mechanism of orthostatic cerebral ischemia, explaining why clinical symptoms of this condition can develop in some elderly patients, when standing, with minor or no falls in blood pressure.
Failure of cerebral postural blood flow autoregulation in the elderly as a cause of cerebral orthostatic ischemia
ROSSI, MARCO;GALETTA, FABIO;
1991-01-01
Abstract
The variations of continuous wave Doppler S/T index of internal carotid artery, reflecting changes of cerebral blood flow, were studied during an orthostatic test in elderly patients with typical orthostatic hypotension and in elderly patients with symptoms of cerebral ischemia when standing, but without diagnostic falls in blood pressure. The observation of a significant decrease of Doppler S/T index in both groups of patients confirms the hypothesis that a failure of cerebral postural blood flow regulation may be a primary mechanism of orthostatic cerebral ischemia, explaining why clinical symptoms of this condition can develop in some elderly patients, when standing, with minor or no falls in blood pressure.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
