Evaluation of cerebral hemodynamics in patients with lacunar infarction by transcranial Doppler

Objective To observe the cerebral hemodynamics in patients with lacunar infarction which comes primarily from arteriolar occlusion.Methods After excluding the lacunar infarction cases manifesting a pathogenesis relative to carotid stenosis by ultrasonic examination or MRA,the cerebral hemodynamic indexes of 115 cases with lacunar infarction were measured by transcranial Doppler. Meanwhile,the controls included 30 healthy cases,their cranial CT or MRI normal.Results The mean velocity of middle,anterior and posterior cerebral artery in lacunar infarction cases was slower than that of the controls,but pulse indexes were higher than those in control group(respectively 1.05±0.26,1.01±0.24, 1.05±0.23 and 0.87±0.12,0.88±0.20,0.88±0.16,P＜0.05),which were positively correlative to ages in lacunar infarction cases(r=0.394,0.299,0.352,P＜0.05).The pulse index in anterior cerebral artery was correlated with systolic pressure and pulse pressure(r=0.338,0.353,P＜0.05),and that in middle cerebral artery only with pulse pressure(r=0.220,P＜0.05).Conclusion The cerebral hemodynamics in patients with lacunar infarction coming primarily from arteriolar occlusion shows slower cerebral blood velocity and higher pulse index,which is relative to age and blood pressure.