Brain blood flow pulse analysis may help to recognize individuals who suffer from hydrocephalus

Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is often associated with altered cerebral blood flow. Recent research with the use of the ultrasonic method suggests specific changes in the shape of cardiac-related cerebral arterial blood volume (C_aBV) pulses in NPH patients. Our study aims to provide a quantitative analysis of the shape of C_aBV pulses, estimated based on transcranial Doppler ultrasonography (TCD) in NPH patients and healthy individuals.

The C_aBV pulses were estimated using TCD cerebral blood flow velocity signals recorded from probable NPH adults and age-matched healthy individuals at rest. The shape of the C_aBV pulses was compared to a triangular shape with 27 similarity parameters calculated for every reliable C_aBV pulse and compared between patients and volunteers. The diagnostic accuracy of the most prominent parameter for NPH classification was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC).

The similarity parameters were calculated for 31 probable NPH patients (age: 59 years (IQR: 47, 67 years), 14 females) and 23 healthy volunteers (age: 54 years (IQR: 43, 61 years), 18 females). Eighteen of 27 parameters were different between healthy individuals and NPH patients (p < 0.05). The most prominent differences were found for the ascending slope of the C_aBV pulse with the AUC equal to 0.87 (95% confidence interval: 0.77, 0.97, p < 0.001).

The findings suggest that in NPH, the ascending slope of the C_aBV pulse had a slower rise, was more like a straight line, and generally was less convex than in volunteers. Prospective research is required to verify the clinical utility of these findings.