Features of cerebral blood flow reactivity in patients with post-traumatic epilepsy

Abstract

Transcranial Doppler ultrasonography was used to examine 65 young patients with symptomatic posttraumatic partial epilepsy. Cerebral arterial blood flow velocity and reactivity to functional stress were assessed. Hyporeactivity to vasoconstrictor stress was observed in all clinical groups. Depletion of vasodilator responses was observed in patients with subcompensation and decompensation of the disease. Patients with frequent epileptic seizures showed a significant decrease in reactivity to orthostatic stress. Mild hyperreactivity to the antiorthostatic test was detected in the group of patients with clinical compensation. The hyporeactivity to functional stress in patients with epilepsy is due to the possible parasympathetic influence of the suprasegmental autonomic nervous system.