Factors Affecting Basilar Artery Pulsatility Index on Transcranial Doppler

Transcranial doppler is a non-invasive method that measures the blood flow velocity and the direction of cerebral blood vessels through the doppler principle.The pulsatility index is an index for measuring the transcranial doppler that reflects the distal vascular resistance and is used as an index for the presence and diffusion of cerebral small vessel diseases.The purpose of this study was to evaluate the risk factors affecting the basilar artery pulsatility index in ischemic stroke patients.From January 2014 to May 2015, 422 patients were selected by measuring the transcranial doppler pulsatility index, considering their basilar artery pulsatility index.Univariate analysis was performed using the basilar artery pulsatility index as a dependent variable.Multiple regression analysis was performed considering the factors affecting the pulsatility index as variables.Univariate analysis revealed age, presence of hypertension, presence of diabetes mellitus, presence of hyperlipidemia, and hematocrit (P＜0.1) as factors.Multiple regression analysis showed statistically significant results with age (P＜0.001),presence of diabetes (P=0.004), and presence of hyperlipidemia (P=0.041).The risk factors affecting the basilar artery pulsatility index of transcranial doppler were age, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia.Further research will be needed to increase the cerebral pulsatility index as a surrogate marker of the elderly, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia.