Prognostic value of rCBF measurements and CT in focal cerebral ischemia

CT is the most effective examination technique for studying the evolution of ischemic attacks, but if performed within the first 3 weeks it does not allow prognosis of possible evolution towards necrosis. CBF measurement and vasoreactivity tests under Althesin do allow this prognosis. Thirty patients whose evolution was checked clinically and by repeated CT examinations (89 in all) underwent CBF measurements (intra-arterial xenon 133) and vasoreactivity tests. In all cases (17 patients) where vasoreactivity had completely disappeared (inverse steal), the infarct evolved towards necrosis.