title: Vasomotor reactivity comparison in multiple sclerosis patients with white matter lesions and nonmultiple sclerosis subjects with white matter lesions in brain magnetic resonance imaging.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It has been recognized a close relationship between multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions and the cerebral vasculature. In this study, we observed cerebrovascular vasomotor reactivity difference between the MS patients and the non-MS migraine individuals.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective study was conducted on 40 patients with MS referring to Neurology Clinic of Isfahan Al-Zahra Hospital in 2012. The patients were compared with the same number of non-MS migraine individuals. Both groups had white matter lesions in brain magnetic resonance imaging. To evaluate the rate of cerebral artery vasomotor reactivity, transcranial Doppler device was used, and breath-holding index (BHI) was separately calculated for each middle cerebral artery. Main flow velocity (MFV) was determined by continuously recording of a period of 5 min of breathing the air in the room. The obtained data were analyzed using SPSS software version 18 and t-test, Chi-square and analysis of variance tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean values of MFV at rest was not significantly different between cases and control groups (46.21 ± 4.20 vs. 44.69 ± 4.34, P = 0.115) but difference between cases and control groups in MFV apnea was significant (59.11 ± 5.10 vs. 55.35 ± 6.03, P = 0.004). BHI in the control group was 0.79 ± 0.26 and in the case group was 0.93 ± 0.20 and these differences was found to be significant (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The mean of BHI and cerebral vasomotor reactivity in MS patients was more than the non-MS migraine individuals, although the mechanism of this process still remains unknown.
authors.affiliation: Isfahan Neurosciences Research Center, Alzahra Hospital, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Fariborz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Khorvash
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Masaeli
authors.affiliation: Isfahan Neurosciences Research Center, Alzahra Hospital, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Vahid
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Shaygannejad
authors.affiliation: Isfahan Neurosciences Research Center, Alzahra Hospital, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saadatnia
keywords: Brain magnetic resonance imaging; multiple sclerosis; white matter lesions