Blood flow in affected major arteries of the head in hypertensive patients

Aim. To assess bloodflow in intracranial internal carotid and vertebral art eries in patients with essential hypertension (EH) and hemodynamically insi gnificant atherosclerotic lesions and deformities of major arteries of the head (MAH). Materials and methods. The blood flow was assessed in 55 untreated patients (mean age 53+/-1 years) with mild, moderate or severe hypertension. 20 hea lthy patients served control. Duplex scanning was performed using ACUSON un it. Results. Total blood flow (Q) in hypertensive subjects appeared significant ly subnormal. It was less in patients with hemodynamically insignificant at herosclerotic stenosis and flexures of the carotid and vertebral arteries t han in patients with affection of the carotid arteries only. Q in MAH was l ower in smokers than in non-smokers.