Traumatic cerebral vascular injury: the effects of concussive brain injury on the cerebral vasculature.
In terms of human suffering, medical expenses, and lost productivity, head injury is one of the major health care problems in the United States, and inadequate cerebral blood flow is an important contributor to mortality and morbidity after traumatic brain injury. Despite the importance of cerebral vascular dysfunction in the pathophysiology of traumatic brain injury, the effects of trauma on the cerebral circulation have been less well studied than the effects of trauma on the brain. Recent research has led to a better understanding of the physiologic, cellular, and molecular components and causes of traumatic cerebral vascular injury. A more thorough understanding of the direct and indirect effects of trauma on the cerebral vasculature will lead to improvements in current treatments of brain trauma as well as to the development of novel and, hopefully, more effective therapeutic strategies.
DeWitt
Douglas S
DS
Charles R. Allen Research Laboratories, Department of Anesthesiology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Boulevard, Galveston, TX 77555-0830, USA. ddewitt@utmb.edu
Prough
Donald S
DS
D000818:Animals; D001924:Brain Concussion / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism
D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species