title: Age and carotid artery occlusive disease are important determinants of cerebral blood flow changes after antihypertensive therapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the short-term effects of antihypertensive therapy on cerebral blood flow (CBF).
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, observational study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A university-affiliated teaching hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four patients (age range 53-85 yrs) with chronic hypertension, nine of whom had carotid artery occlusive disease (CAOD).
  
  
  METHODS
  The CBF (xenon-133 inhalation technique) and blood pressure were measured before and at 60 minutes after administration of antihypertensive therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Age was inversely related to the change in CBF in patients with CAOD (p < 0.01). In all patients, the change in CBF after taking antihypertensive drugs was significantly inversely associated with baseline CBF (p < 0.01). Changes in regional CBF, measured by asymmetry scores, were significantly greater in patients with CAOD than in those without CAOD (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elderly patients with occlusive extracranial cerebrovascular disease are at risk of drug-induced changes in both mean and regional CBF, and may benefit from a CBF assessment before being prescribed antihypertensive therapy.
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA.
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Fagan
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Levine
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Ewing
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Ramadan
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Welch
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents