Arterial hypertension and cerebral hemodynamics: impact of head-down tilt on cerebral blood flow (arterial spin-labeling-MRI) in healthy and hypertensive patients.

Objective: Hypertension affects cerebrovascular autoregulation and increases the risk of cerebrovascular events and dementia. Notably, it is associated with cerebrovascular remodeling and lower resting cerebral blood flow (CBF). We wanted to determine, using arterial spin-labeling-MRI, the impact of a head-down tilt (HDT) dynamic maneuver on CBF in hypertensive patients.

Impact of Head-Down Position on Cerebral Blood Flow in Healthy Subjects: An Arterial Spin-Labeling MR Perfusion Study.

Background: A head-down (HD) position is used in some stroke centers to maintain cerebral perfusion (CP) in stroke patients.

Purpose: To assess CP in healthy volunteers in the supine and HD (-15°) positions.

Study Type: Prospective.