OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to look for a probable relationship between cerebral vasomotor reactivity (VMR) and orthostatic hypotension (OH) in Parkinson's disease (PD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted on 44 patients with PD. Assessment of cerebral VMR was performed by means of transcranial Doppler (TCD) of middle cerebral artery (MCA) before and after a vasodilatory stimulus, carbon dioxide test. Moreover, orthostatic hypotension was evaluated. RESULTS: OH was presented in 12 (27.3%) Parkinson's patients. The average resting blood flow velocity (BFV) in the MCA was 30.20 (SD=9.58)cms(-1) which significantly increased to 46.25 (SD=16.23)cms(-1) after carbon dioxide test (P<0.001). Impaired VMR was observed in 15 (34.1%) of the subjects, while it was not associated with the presence of OH (P=0.770). CONCLUSION: Evaluation of VMR in patients affected by PD, could assist in early diagnosis of cerebral autonomic dysfunction and prevent its serious consequences prior and more valid to OH. Crown
OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to look for a probable relationship between cerebral vasomotor reactivity (VMR) and orthostatic hypotension (OH) in Parkinson's disease (PD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted on 44 patients with PD. Assessment of cerebral VMR was performed by means of transcranial Doppler (TCD) of middle cerebral artery (MCA) before and after a vasodilatory stimulus, carbon dioxide test. Moreover, orthostatic hypotension was evaluated. RESULTS: OH was presented in 12 (27.3%) Parkinson'spatients. The average resting blood flow velocity (BFV) in the MCA was 30.20 (SD=9.58)cms(-1) which significantly increased to 46.25 (SD=16.23)cms(-1) after carbon dioxide test (P<0.001). Impaired VMR was observed in 15 (34.1%) of the subjects, while it was not associated with the presence of OH (P=0.770). CONCLUSION: Evaluation of VMR in patients affected by PD, could assist in early diagnosis of cerebral autonomic dysfunction and prevent its serious consequences prior and more valid to OH. Crown