Gender-related differences in acetazolamide-induced cerebral vasodilatory response: A transcranial Doppler study

Cerebrovascular reactivity, cerebrovascular reserve capacity, and velocity acceleration can be easily and reliably assessed by measuring acetazolamide -induced changes using transcranial Doppler. The authors' aim was to determ ine whether there are gender-related differences in these parameters. Fifty -six heal-thy subjects (27 males, 29 females) were examined using transcran ial Doppler. Velocities in the middle cerebral artery on both sides were re corded before and at 5, 10, 15, and 20 minutes after intravenous administra tion of 1 g acetazolamide. The baseline mean flow velocity in the middle ce rebral artery was significantly higher in women than in men (p < 0.02). Aft er acetazolamide administration, significantly higher cerebrovascular react ivity, cerebrovascular reserve capacity, and velocity acceleration were obs erved in females than in males (p < 0.001 in all cases). Subgroup analysis showed that women before menopause responded with higher cerebrovascular re serve capacity and velocity acceleration than age-matched men (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001, respectively), but no significant difference was found between females after menopause and men of similar age.