Microembolic Signals in Arteries of the Base of the Brain after Ischemic Stroke.

Embolic strokes make up a significant proportion of acute cerebrovascular accidents. Doppler blood flow monitoring with microembolodetection allows suggesting the embolic nature of cerebral infarction. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with the presence of microembolic signals in patients with ischemic stroke. The study included 515 patients, microembolic signals were detected in 48 (9.3%) of them. According to multispiral CT angiography, significant differences in patients with and without microembolic signals were found for wall thickness of both common carotid arteries and for left internal carotid artery (p<0.05). Factor analysis revealed a variable that reflects the severity of left carotid arteries atherosclerosis, which was a significant predictor of registration of the microembolic signals (p=0.016).

Interrelations of Cerebral Hemodynamics with Parameters of Cardiac Function and Brain Tissue in Patients with Ischemic Stroke.

We analyzed interrelations between the cerebral blood flow, cardiac output, and condition of the brain substance in 530 patients with ischemic stroke. Dependencies between the linear blood flow velocities in all arteries supplying the brain, as well as between the total volume blood flow through the internal carotid arteries and left ventricular stroke volume were revealed. The severity of atrophy was maximum in the parietal lobes (median 1.5 (1.0; 2.0)) and minimum in the occipital lobes (median 0.5 (0; 1.0)). Temporal lobes cortical atrophy significantly correlated with changes in the limbic system and in the periventricular and deep white matter; a significant weak inverse correlation of this parameter with blood flow in the middle cerebral artery was also found. Changes in the periventricular white matter (but not in deep white matter) demonstrated a significant inverse correlation with blood flow in the middle and anterior cerebral arteries.

Brain Changes in the White Matter of the Brain White Matter Changes and Cognitive Functions in Asymptomatic Patients.

We analyzed the relationship between white matter hyperintensities in T2-weighted MR-images (according to Fazekas score) and the state of cognitive functions (total MOCA score) in 65 asymptomatic individuals. A relationship between the presence/number of lesions in the deep white matter of the brain and cognitive status according to the total MOCA score was revealed. The results of cognitive functions assessment also correlated with MRI evaluation of the severity of brain cortex atrophy. The severity of deep white matter lesions according to the Fazekas scale were also associated with end-diastolic blood flow velocities in the middle cerebral, vertebral, and basilar arteries.