Experience of using vasoactive therapy in patients with stage I-II venous discirculatory encephalopathy

Abstract

Introduction. We present the results of our own observational cohort study of patients with stage I-II discirculatory encephalopathy treated with a combination of dihydroergocriptine and caffeine (Vazobral®). Interest in this issue is due to the fact that cerebrospinal venous insufficiency plays a role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative and vascular diseases of the brain, leading to the development of cognitive impairment, the formation of secondary headaches, and reducing the quality of life of patients.The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the drug Vazobral® in patients with stage I-II discirculatory encephalopathy due to venous discirculation in the presence of chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency.Material and methods: 102 outpatients (average age 63.5 ± 3.74 years, 25 (25.5%) men and 77 (74.5%) women) suffering from chronic cerebral ischemia and having signs of chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency . Stage I dyscirculatory encephalopathy with mild cognitive impairment was diagnosed in 58 (59.2%) patients, stage II dyscirculatory encephalopathy with mild cognitive impairment was diagnosed. All observed had a duplex scan of the branches of the aortic arch, jugular and vertebral veins, with a measurement of the linear velocity of blood flow; the intensity of headaches, cognitive status, the severity of affective syndrome using special questionnaires were evaluated. For 3 months, patients took Vazobral® 8/80 mg per day. The data obtained were analyzed using computer programs SPSS and Statistica. Significance of differences – with a 95% CI, p <0.05.Results. Significant positive dynamics was observed in patients with Vazobral®: a decrease in headache intensity (from 4.11 to 0.67 points), cognitive function assessment increased by 14% from the initial level, the severity of the anxiety-depressive symptom complex, significantly decreased by 38–56%Conclusion. The drug Vazobral® can be recommended to increase the effectiveness of the treatment of patients suffering from stage I-II discirculatory encephalopathy with venous discirculation phenomena.

Keywords

• chronic cerebral ischemia
• cerebral venous insufficiency
• vascular diseases
• headache
• cognitive impairment
• dihydroergocriptine
• caffeine
• vazobral®