ABSTRACT
We studied effects of enalaprilate and infedipine therapy on the cognitive functions and extracranial circulation in 60 patients with chronic AH complicated by acute encephalopathy. 10% of them had predemential disorders on day 1 of hospitalization and 90% mild cognitive problems. Half of the patients suffered reduced circulation in the common carotid artery. The contribution of impaired extracranial circulation to cognitive dysfunction in the acute period of hypertonic crisis was higher than that of high SAD and DAD. Antihypertensive therapy improved bloodflow in extracranial vessels, decreased their systolic and diastolic indices but failed to eliminate mild cognitive disorders in 65% of the patients. Visual-spatial orientation was restored more frequently than verbal auditory memory. Enalaprilate and infedipine had similar angio- and cerebroprotective effects but the latter had more pronounced favourable effect on verbal auditory memory than the former. The degree of recovery of cognitive function 2 weeks after hypertonic crisis depended not only on the form of cognitive disorder and therapeutic modality but also on the patient's age. Hemodynamic parameters and age 2 weeks after antihypertensive therapy are predictors of residual cognitive dysfunction soon (2 weeks) after recovery.
