Impaired cerebral autoregulation in patients with malignant hypertension

Circulation. 2004 Oct 12;110(15):2241-5. doi: 10.1161/01.CIR.0000144472.08647.40. Epub 2004 Oct 4.

Abstract

Background: In patients with a malignant hypertension, immediate parenteral treatment with blood pressure-lowering agents such as intravenous sodium nitroprusside (SNP) is indicated. In this study, we evaluated static and dynamic cerebral autoregulation (CA) during acute blood pressure lowering with SNP in these patients.

Methods and results: In 8 patients with mean arterial pressure (MAP) >140 mm Hg and grade III or IV hypertensive retinopathy at hospital admission, middle cerebral artery blood velocity (MCA V) and blood pressure were monitored. Dynamic CA was expressed as the 0.1-Hz MCA V(mean) to MAP phase lead and static CA as the MCA V(mean) to MAP relationship during SNP treatment. Eight normotensive subjects served as a reference group. In the patients, the MCA V(mean) to MAP phase lead was lower (30+/-8 degrees versus 58+/-5 degrees , mean+/-SEM; P<0.05), whereas the transfer gain tended to be higher. During SNP treatment, target MAP was reached within 90 minutes in all patients. The MCA V(mean) decrease was 22+/-4%, along with a 27+/-3% reduction in MAP (from 166+/-4 to 121+/-6 mm Hg; P<0.05) in a linear fashion (averaged slope, 0.82+/-0.15% cm x s(-1) . % mm Hg(-1); r=0.70+/-0.07).

Conclusions: In patients with malignant hypertension, dynamic CA is impaired. An MCA V(mean) plateau was not detected during the whole SNP treatment, indicating loss of static CA as well. This study showed that during the whole rapid reduction in blood pressure with SNP, MCA V(mean) decreases almost one on one with MAP.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones / adverse effects
  • Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Adult
  • Antihypertensive Agents / pharmacology*
  • Antihypertensive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Blood Flow Velocity / drug effects
  • Blood Pressure / drug effects
  • Blood Pressure / physiology
  • Brain / physiopathology*
  • Brain Edema / etiology
  • Brain Edema / physiopathology
  • Carcinoma / metabolism
  • Cerebrovascular Circulation / drug effects*
  • Cerebrovascular Circulation / physiology
  • Female
  • Glomerulonephritis, IGA / complications
  • Humans
  • Hydrocortisone / metabolism
  • Hypertension / chemically induced
  • Hypertension / complications
  • Hypertension / drug therapy
  • Hypertension / etiology
  • Hypertension / physiopathology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Middle Cerebral Artery / physiopathology
  • Nitroprusside / pharmacology*
  • Nitroprusside / therapeutic use
  • Papilledema / etiology
  • Papilledema / physiopathology
  • Retinal Hemorrhage / etiology
  • Retinal Hemorrhage / physiopathology

Substances

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones
  • Antihypertensive Agents
  • Nitroprusside
  • Hydrocortisone