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Blood flow velocity waveform in the common carotid artery and its analysis in elderly subjects

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Abstract

We investigated common carotid artery blood flow in 99 elderly nursing home residents using an ultrasonic quantitative blood flow measurement system. Systolic velocity and end-diastolic velocity were obtained from the waveform and classified, using the end-diastolic/systolic volume as Type A which is normal flow (>20% bilaterally), Type B which is unilateral decreased flow (<20% unilaterally), Type C which is bilateral decreased flow (<20% bilaterally), Type D which is Type C plus a saw tooth pattern and Type E which is no diastolic pattern, i.e. a value of 0 unilaterally or bilaterally. Five per cent of subjects showed Type A of blood flow velocity waveform (normal flow pattern) and about 40% showed Type E (no diastolic pattern). The subjects were divided into three groups according to blood flow velocity waveform. Groups 1, 2 and 3 showed Types A or B, C or D, and E, respectively. The total blood flow volume and mean blood flow velocity of Group 1 were significantly higher than those of Groups 2 and 3 in both the supine and sitting positions. Although both total blood flow volume and mean blood flow velocity of Group 1 decreased significantly in postural change, those of Groups 2 and 3 did not change. These results suggest that total blood flow volume and mean blood flow velocity decrease in proportion to changes in the blood flow velocity waveform.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neuropsychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Kagoshima University, 8-35-1, Sakuragaoka, 890, Kagoshima, Japan

    Itsugi Nagatomo, Mitsuo Nomaguchi & Kei Matsumoto

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  1. Itsugi Nagatomo
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  2. Mitsuo Nomaguchi
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  3. Kei Matsumoto
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Nagatomo, I., Nomaguchi, M. & Matsumoto, K. Blood flow velocity waveform in the common carotid artery and its analysis in elderly subjects. Clinical Autonomic Research 2, 197–200 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01818962

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01818962

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