Laser Doppler flowmetry in the assessment of the microcirculation in patients with acute and chronic cerebrovascular insufficiency

Abstract

19 patients with acute ischemic stroke and 22 patients with chronic cerebrovascular encephalopathy were evaluated by course of neurological, psychoemotional state, cognitive function, laboratory tests. Laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) was performed from 3 to 7 days after the onset of ischemic stroke on forehead in the supraorbital region, which supplies blood to the supraorbital artery from internal carotid artery. The volume of perfusion in the microvasculature in the projection of the affected vascular field in patients with acute ischemic stroke was lower compared to patients with cerebrovascular insufficiency. Patients with acute ischemic stroke had activation of blood flow in microcirculatory vascular bed with the activation of myogenic activity of muscle-containing arterioles and predominantly nutritive regimen of microcirculation after systemic thrombolytic therapy was performed. In case of significant stroke size, myogenic activity and nutritive pattern of microhemodynamics were reduced, in some cases non-nutritive pattern and /or venular stasis was revealed. LDF can be used as effective diagnostic method for early detection of adverse cerebral microcirculatory changes to perform necessary correction.