RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN COURSE OF HYPERTENSION,CEREBRAL HEMODYNAMICS AND LEUKOARAIOSIS

Objective To understand the relationship between the course of hypertension,cerebral hemodynamics and leukoaraiosis. Methods A total of 73 hypertensive patients were divided into four groups as A,B,C and D according to the course of the disease.Group A,less than five years;group B,5—10years;group C,11-20years;group D,more than 20 years.All the patients received transcranial Doppler(TCD)and magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)to record the mean velocity(Vm),systolic velocity(Vs),diastolic velocity(Vd)and pulsatility index(PI)of middle cerebral artery(MCA)and the severity of leukoaraiosis.Seventy-four healthy individuals served as controls. Results Compared with the control subjects,the Vm and Vs in groups B and C were significantly faster,the Vd in group D slower and PI increased,the differences were significant(F=7.8-31.9,P0.05).The severity of LA in patients in groups B,C and D was higher than the controls(Z=-4.74,P0.01).In the patients,the age,course of the disease,PI,and Vd were obviously correlated wit LA(r=-0.294-0.706,P0.05).MCA-PI was still related significantly to LA score after controlling age,the duration of hypertension and Vd(r=0.307,P0.05). Conclusion The speed of cerebral blood flow in hypertensive patients increases,but,the speed tends to step down along with the increase of the course of the disease.MCA-PI can be used to predict the severity of LA in patients with hypertension.