[Cognitive functions in patients with stenosing lesion of brachio-cephalic arteries]

Authors studied cognitive functions in 97 patients with different clinical presentations, lateralization and number of stenotic brachio-cephalic vessels. The Luria's syndrome neuropsychological analysis distinctly revealed the topics of cognitive deficits. Wechsler verbal memory tests, the Stroop test (words-figures), the Schulte test were administered as well. Disturbances of high psychic functions were found in 97.9% of patients. The bilateral pathology of lobe regions was noted most often. The dysfunction of parietal and temporal lobes was mainly unilateral and was linked with the side of stenosing process. Disturbances of neurodynamic parameters of mental activity were correlated with the age (higher frequency in patients older than 50 years), a side of stenosis and/or lesion of stroke, bilateral lesions of carotid arteries. The results allow a more precise assessment of clinical significance of carotid stenosis in the development of cognitive dysfunction that may assist in recommendation of surgical treatment.