Cerebrovascular reactivity is impaired in patients with cardiac failure

Aims We undertook this study to evaluate potential changes in cerebral vaso reactivity in patients with cardiac failure and their consequent dependence upon cardiac functional variables. Methods and Results A total of 50 patients with various degrees of heart fa ilure, 20 age-matched controls and 20 normal controls were examined. Cerebr ovascular reactivity was examined with the carbon dioxide technique. Mean f low velocities of both middle cerebral arteries as well as end-tidal carbon dioxide partial pressure were continuously registered. Normal controls wer e examined on two different occasions, to evaluate the technique's reproduc ibility. Cerebrovascular reactivity was significantly reduced in all examin ed patients as compared to controls, and in NYHA IV as compared to NYHA II and III patients. A significant relationship between cerebrovascular reacti vity and left ventricular ejection fraction was evident. Reproducibility of the technique was satisfactory. Conclusion Our study provided evidence of significantly reduced cerebrovasc ular reactivity in patients with cardiac failure, which was significantly r elated to the NYHA grade and the left ventricular ejection fraction. (C) 20 00 The European Society of Cardiology.