Reactivity of cerebral vessels in occlusive damages of carotid arteries

Cerebrovascular CO2 reactivity was examined in 62 patients with occlusive damages of carotid arteries (42 with atherosclerosis, 20 with non-specific aorto-arteritis). Control group consisted of 20 volunteers aged 30-60 years without any signs of cerebrovascular pathology. Increase of blood flow in the middle brain artery during 5-minutes of 5% CO2 inhalation was the main quantitative index which determined autoregulative reaction of cerebral vessels (ARCV). One of the main factors which determined the values of ARCV occurred to be the degree of the damage of carotid arteries. ARCV was not significantly changed in stenosis (up to 80%) as compared to controls. Meanwhile its value was equal to 12+4,1 and 13+4,2 c/s in stenosis (more than 80%). In other words ARCV permitted to determine hemodynamic significance of the damages of carotid arteries and of brachiocephalic trunk. Cerebrovascular CO2 reactivity permitted to determine either hemodynamic significance of the damages of carotid arteries or collateral reserve capacity of blood vessels. The was quite important for more precise determination of both medical policy and indication of surgical treatment in occlusive damages of carotid arteries.