Cerebral haemodynamics in patients with hydrocephalus after subarachnoid haemorrhage due to ruptured aneurysm

Abstract.

Cerebral blood flow (CBF) and cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) may be reduced in patients with normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) after subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH). However, little is known about brain circulation in asymptomatic patients with ventriculomegaly after SAH. This study investigated CBF and CVR in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients with ventriculomegaly to clarify the mechanism of NPH. CBF and CVR were investigated in 48 patients with ventriculomegaly after SAH due to ruptured aneurysm. Mean CBF of the whole brain was measured by first-pass radionuclide angiography using technetium-99m hexamethylpropylene amine oxime. CVR was measured as the percentage change from the baseline mean CBF value after administration of 500 mg acetazolamide. Thirty patients with NPH who responded to shunting had significantly (P<0.01) reduced mean CBF and CVR compared with normal controls. Fourteen asymptomatic patients with ventriculomegaly showed significant (P<0.01) reduction in CVR but no difference in mean CBF. Four symptomatic patients who did not respond to shunting showed significantly (P<0.01) reduced mean CBF but had preserved CVR. Postoperative mean CBF and CVR increased significantly (P<0.01) in 21 patients who responded to shunting, but showed no significant change in four symptomatic patients who did not respond to shunting. Reduction of CBF superimposed on pre-existing impairment of CVR may be an essential step in the mechanism responsible for the manifestation of symptoms of NPH.