Cerebral atrophy precedes the change in cerebral blood flow in patients with ischemic cerebrovascular disease: a short-term follow-up study.

Cerebral atrophy and the decrease in cerebral blood flow (CBF) progress with advancing age. Which of them takes first place, the changes in CBF or cerebral atrophy? We investigated longitudinal changes in CBF and cerebral atrophy in 14 patients with ischemic cerebrovascular disease (CVD): 11 patients with supratentorial lacunar infarction and 3 with carotid transient ischemia attack who were neurologically stable during the 1-3 years of observation. Cerebral atrophy was estimated by the brain atrophy index (BAI): one of the CT area measurement methods, and CBF was measured using the 133Xe inhalation technique. While significant progression of cerebral atrophy was observed, there was no significant change in CBF. Cerebral atrophy precedes the change in CBF and CVD.