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Published on: November 19, 2020
[The noninvasive assessment of intracranial hemodynamics by transcranial dopplerography]
Insights
This study used transcranial dopplerography to assess blood flow in the brain, revealing how the circle of Willis compensates for internal carotid artery occlusion and how aging affects blood flow.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Vascular Biology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Intracranial hemodynamics are crucial for brain health.
- The circle of Willis plays a key role in collateral circulation.
- Aging impacts cerebrovascular function.
Observation:
- Transcranial dopplerography assessed intracranial hemodynamics in healthy individuals and patients with internal carotid artery occlusion.
- Compression tests of the common carotid artery evaluated the circle of Willis's anterior and posterior communicating arteries.
- Blood flow velocity in middle and anterior meningeal arteries significantly slowed with aging (p < 0.05).
Findings:
- Collateral blood flow pathways were identified within the circle of Willis during internal carotid artery occlusion.
- In unilateral internal carotid artery occlusion, collateral flow occurred via anterior and posterior communicating arteries.
- In bilateral occlusion, collateral flow utilized posterior circle of Willis parts and ophthalmic artery shunts.
Implications:
- Understanding collateral circulation is vital for managing cerebrovascular diseases.
- Age-related hemodynamic changes may predispose individuals to neurological deficits.
- This research aids in evaluating the functional significance of the circle of Willis.
Abstract:
Transcranial dopplerography investigations of intracranial hemodynamics in healthy subjects and patients with occlusion of the internal carotid artery, in compression tests of common carotid artery made it possible to evaluate the function of the circle of Willis anterior and posterior communicating arteries with determination of the sources of collateral compensating blood flow. A significant slowing down of the flow (p < 0.05) along the middle and anterior meningeal arteries occurs with aging. In unilateral occlusion of the internal carotid artery collateral blood flow takes place in intracranial shunts of the anterior and posterior parts of the circle of Willis, in bilateral occlusion--in posterior parts of the circle and natural extra- and intracranial shunts via ophthalmic artery system.
