title: Transcranial Doppler blood velocity measurement--the effect of changes in velocity profile.
abstract: Transcranial Doppler (TCD) units measure blood velocity in the middle cerebral artery (MCA) and are used to examine the effects of pharmacological agents. The units actually measure the average of the maximum blood velocity envelope (aveV(max)) and it is assumed that changes in aveV(max) follow changes in the true mean velocity (aveV(mean)). This may not be true if there are changes in velocity profile. Results from previous TCD studies using acetazolamide (ACZ) and caffeine were examined for evidence for changes in velocity profile. ACZ increased aveV(max) by 21% (95% CI 13 to 29%) and aveV(mean) by 14% (95% CI 9 to 19%). Caffeine decreased aveV(max) by 8% (95% CI 4 to 12%) and aveV(mean) by 5% (95% CI 4% increase to 13% decrease). In both cases, the true change, measured using aveV(mean) was lower, indicating possible changes in velocity profile. We conclude that the possibility of changes in velocity profile must be considered when using TCD to quantify changes in blood velocity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Measurement, Royal Bournemouth Hospital, Castle Lane East, Bournemouth, UK. michael.lunt@rbch-tr.swest.nhs.uk
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Lunt
authors.forename: D F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Jenkinson
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kerr
mesh_terms: D000086:Acetazolamide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000187:drug effects*; D002110:Caffeine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D017585:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Transcranial
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D002110:Caffeine; D000086:Acetazolamide