Cerebral blood flow in gestosis

The specific features of cerebral blood flow in gestosis were assessed to specify its severity. A study was made in 32 healthy pregnant women, 80 patients with varying gestosis, and 20 nonpregnant women. All the women underwent transcranial Doppler study in the arteries of the circle of Willis. The objective criteria for progressive gestosis were found to be evident spasm of the basilar artery in the presence of dilation of other arteries of the circle of Willis and arterioles of the brain, which was accompanied by elevated cerebral perfusion pressure and higher hydrodynamic resistance index. Severe gestosis is characterized by total dilation of all cerebral vessels and by cerebral blood flow autoregulation system derangement that appears as the relationship of cerebral perfusion pressure to the changes in systemic blood pressure, which results in brain edema and is attended by the clinical picture of preeclampsia. The authors consider transcranial Doppler study to be a safe, non-invasive, and informative technique for the objective evaluation of cerebral hemodynamics in gestosis, the determination of the degree of its severity, and the choice of the optimal management of pregnancy and labor.

preeclampsia, eclampsia, cerebral hemodynamics, transcranial Doppler study