title: Blood flow velocity waveform in the common carotid artery and its analysis in elderly subjects.
abstract: We investigated common carotid artery blood flow in 99 elderly nursing home residents using an ultrasonic quantitative blood flow measurement system. Systolic velocity and end-diastolic velocity were obtained from the waveform and classified, using the end-diastolic/systolic volume as Type A which is normal flow (greater than 20% bilaterally), Type B which is unilateral decreased flow (less than 20% unilaterally), Type C which is bilateral decreased flow (less than 20% bilaterally), Type D which is Type C plus a saw tooth pattern and Type E which is no diastolic pattern, i.e. a value of 0 unilaterally or bilaterally. Five per cent of subjects showed Type A of blood flow velocity waveform (normal flow pattern) and about 40% showed Type E (no diastolic pattern). The subjects were divided into three groups according to blood flow velocity waveform. Groups 1, 2 and 3 showed Types A or B, C or D, and E, respectively. The total blood flow volume and mean blood flow velocity of Group 1 were significantly higher than those of Groups 2 and 3 in both the supine and sitting positions. Although both total blood flow volume and mean blood flow velocity of Group 1 decreased significantly in postural change, those of Groups 2 and 3 did not change. These results suggest that total blood flow volume and mean blood flow velocity decrease in proportion to changes in the blood flow velocity waveform.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuropsychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Kagoshima University, Japan.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nagatomo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nomaguchi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology; D003971:Diastole; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024510:Muscle Development; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011187:Posture; D012016:Reference Values; D016683:Supine Position; D013599:Systole