Brain perfusion disturbances as pathogenetic link of cognitive dysfunction in patients with essential hypertension and in patients with metabolic syndrome

The aim of our study was to estimate and compare the regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in patients (pts) with arterial hypertension (AH) and metabolic syndrome (Met S). The study involved 23pts with AH and 50pts with Met S. All pts were studied by perfusion brain SPECT with 99mTc HMPAO and comprehensive neuropsychological testing. The results of Brain SPECT showed that cerebral perfusion was significantly decreased in patients with regions of MetS in comparison with AH pts. The regional cerebral blood flow in pts with metabolic syndrome decreased by 6,3% (p=0,004) in left posterior parietal cortex, 5,5% (p=0,009) and 7,1% (p=0,001) in right and left temporal brain regions correspondingly, as well as by 9,2% (p=0,00001) and 8,1% (p=0,00007) in left and right occipital cortex, in comparison with AH pts. Relationship between rCBF and cognitive function was found.