Objectives: Elderly persons harbouring severe white matter hyperintensity (WMH), a radiological manifestation of cerebral small vessel disease (SVD), have an increased risk of dementia, stroke and poor functional outcomes. A simple screening tool will enhance their recruitment into preventive trials for SVD. We explored the clinical utility of the pulsatility index (PI) of the middle cerebral artery (MCA), obtained from transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD), in identifying severe WMH among community elderly persons with vascular risk factors.
Methods: Three hundred and thirty-one dementia- and stroke-free community elderly subjects with hypertension and/or diabetes mellitus underwent TCD to obtain the MCA PI. The WMH volume on 3.0 Tesla MRI was quantified and normalized to each subject's brain volume. The normalized WMH volumes were classified as low (<14.5 ml, 1 standard deviation [SD] above the mean, 84th percentile) or high (≥14.5 ml). The severity of WMH was also rated visually with the Fazekas score. Logistic regression and receiver-operator characteristics (ROC) analysis were performed to evaluate the association between the MCA PI and the severity of WMH.
Results: The MCA PI was not an independent predictor of severe WMH. An MCA PI ≥1.095 detected high normalized WMH volumes with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.553 (95% CI 0.473-0.633), sensitivity of 0.556, and specificity of 0.523. ROC analysis of the MCA PI in predicting high Fazekas scores yielded similar findings.
Conclusion: In stroke- and dementia-free elderly persons with vascular risk factors, the MCA PI was unable to identify severe WMH. (Word count: 260).
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jns.2019.116439 | DOI Listing |
J Ultrasound
January 2025
Clinical Unit of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University Hospital and Health Services of Trieste, ASUGI, University of Trieste, Strada di Fiume, 447, 34149, Trieste, Italy.
Introduction: Post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) and dementia affect short- and long-term outcome after stroke and can persist even after recover from a physical handicap. The process underlying PSCI is not yet fully understood. Transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD) is a feasible method to investigate cerebrovascular aging or dementia, through the pulsatility index (PI), the cerebrovascular reactivity (e.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Cereb Blood Flow Metab
January 2025
Neurovascular Research Laboratory, Faculty of Life Sciences and Education, University of South Wales, Pontypridd, UK.
To what extent sildenafil, a selective inhibitor of the type-5 phosphodiesterase modulates systemic redox status and cerebrovascular function during acute exposure to hypoxia remains unknown. To address this, 12 healthy males (aged 24 ± 3 y) participated in a randomized, placebo-controlled crossover study involving exposure to both normoxia and acute (60 min) hypoxia (Fi = 0.14), followed by oral administration of 50 mg sildenafil and placebo (double-blinded).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPLoS One
January 2025
Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies "G. F. Ingrassia", University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
Background: To date, few data to transcranial Doppler sonography (TCD) are available in patients with mild vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) at risk for vascular or mixed dementia. In a previous study in patients with mild VCI and cerebral small vessels disease, a hemodynamic pattern of cerebral hypoperfusion and enhanced vascular resistance were observed; however, longitudinal data are currently lacking. Here, we perform a clinical, psychopathological, and neurosonological follow-up of patients with VCI in order to monitor any progression and to identify TCD measures to detect it.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSci Rep
January 2025
Department of Neurology, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region People's Hospital, Hohhot, China.
Acute internal carotid artery occlusion (AICAO) can result in malignant cerebral edema and unfavorable patient outcomes. This study evaluated the utility of transcranial Doppler (TCD) in assessing contralateral flow compensation and predicting outcomes in patients with AICAO. We enrolled 51 patients within 6 h of symptom onset and conducted TCD examinations to evaluate collateral circulation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntensive Care Med
January 2025
Global Health Research Group in Acquired Brain and Spine Injuries, Cambridge, UK.
Background: Invasive systems are commonly used for monitoring intracranial pressure (ICP) in traumatic brain injury (TBI) and are considered the gold standard. The availability of invasive ICP monitoring is heterogeneous, and in low- and middle-income settings, these systems are not routinely employed due to high cost or limited accessibility. The aim of this consensus was to develop recommendations to guide monitoring and ICP-driven therapies in TBI using non-invasive ICP (nICP) systems.
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