Assessment of cerebral hemodynamics in pregnant women by internal carotid artery pulsed Doppler velocimetry

Article Abstract:

Pregnancy is associated with significant changes in the cardiovascular system, which includes the heart and blood vessels. The cardiac output, or amount of blood pumped by the heart per unit time, and the blood flow of certain organs such as the uterus and kidneys are altered in pregnant women. There is limited knowledge about the effects of pregnancy on the cerebrovascular system and blood flow within the brain, although pregnancy is thought to increase the risk of cerebrovascular disorders. Doppler ultrasound is a method of using sound waves to evaluate blood flow in an organ, and can be used to detect cerebrovascular complications such as narrowing or blockage of the major blood vessels within the brain. Doppler ultrasound, or velocimetry, was used to assess the circulation within the brain in 77 women with uncomplicated pregnancies. Blood flow measurements were made within the internal carotid artery, a major blood vessel supplying the head and neck. Blood flow in the first and second trimesters of pregnancy was similar to that of nonpregnant women, but was slower in the third trimester of pregnancy. Pulsatility index, a measure of the pulse or rhythm of blood flow, was higher in pregnant women from four to 31 weeks gestation as compared with nonpregnant women, but decreased to nonpregnant values at 32 weeks gestation. These results show that Doppler velocimetry is a useful method of assessing blood flow within the brain during pregnancy. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Usage, Doppler ultrasonography

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Effect of early pregnancy on maternal regional cerebral blood flow

Article Abstract:

Women may experience a significant increase in cerebral blood flow during the early stages of pregnancy except in the occipital lobe of the brain. Cerebral blood flow was studied in 10 women who were between seven and 19 weeks pregnant the day before undergoing an abortion and again an average of 43 days after. Cerebral blood flow decreased by an average of 8% after the abortion. The average drop in cerebral blood flow was 8% in the frontal lobe of the brain, 9% in the temporal lobe, 13% in the parietal lobe, 10% in the basal ganglia and 17% in the cerebellum. The average blood flow to the occipital lobe of the brain was approximately the same both before and after the abortion.

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Combination treatment of neonatal rats with hypoxia-ischemia and endotoxin induces long-lasting memory and learning impairment that is associated with extended cerebral damage

Article Abstract:

The long-term of perinatal hypoxia-ischemia and endotoxin on attention and short- and long-term memory in neonatal rats with the use of behavioral tasks and brain histologic results is assessed. The results reveal that the lipopolysaccharide, hypoxia-ischemia, and lipopolysaccharide + hypoxia-ischemia groups showed significantly poorer performance than controls in the choice reaction time task.

United States, Causes of, Observations, Hypoxia, Anoxia, Endotoxins, Memory, Disorders of, Memory disorders

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