Focal cerebral ischaemia and infarction due to antihypertensive therapy.
Eight cases of postural focal cerebral ischaemia due to antihypertensive medications presented to one neurologist over an eight-month period. Most patients were elderly and suffered from chronic hypertension; their symptoms resolved after the reduction or cessation of these medications. These findings re-emphasize that considerable caution is required when antihypertensive medications are used in elderly persons and in patients with chronic hypertension whose cerebral blood-flow autoregulatory curves are shifted to the right. We also draw attention to the fact that drug-induced hypotension may induce focal cerebral ischaemia rather than generalized cerebral ischaemia more frequently than is generally appreciated.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011187:Posture; D011224:Prazosin / Q000009:adverse effects
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D011224:Prazosin