[Use of omaron in patients with post-stroke cognitive disorders].

Efficacy of omaron (a combination of piracetam 400 mg and cinnarizin 25 mg) has been studied 3 months after stroke in 90 post-stroke patients. Forty-five patients receiving the basic therapy (antihypertensive and antithrombotic drugs, statins) have been included in the control group and 45 patients of the main group received in addition omaron (1 pill 3 times daily during 2 months). Intensity of neurologic disturbances, degree of disability, cognitive functions assessed by neuropsychological tests (the Mini-Mental State Examination, the Frontal Assessment battery, the Five words test, the Clock drawing test, the Schulte test) and emotional state (the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale, the Spilberger scale) have been measured. During the period of the study, none of the patients had stroke or myocardial infarction. The improvement of indices of neurological status, decrease of disability degree and normalization of arterial pressure were found in both groups after 2 months of treatment. The significant improvement (p<0,05) of performance on tests for neurocognitive functions and parameters of emotional state was noted in patients treated with omaron compared to those of the control group. The good tolerability of omaron, absence of serious side-effect in combination with other drugs used for prevention of secondary stroke were reported.

[Cognitive disturbances in patients with arterial hypertension].

Memory impairment, headaches and vertigo are considered as initial appearances of chronic cerebral vascular disorder in patients with arterial hypertension (AH). The complex analysis of complaints, cognitive functioning, emotional state and MRI data was conducted in 60 patients with AH, mean age 58,4+/-7,8 years, without a history of stroke and 30 controls matched for age, sex and education. Impairment of cognitive functioning was assessed by the Psychiatric Status Scale (a short version), the Clock Drawing Test, tests of auditory and verbal memory, attention concentration, speed of test performance, speech fluency and spatial orientation. The deterioration effect of systolic arterial pressure on cognitive functioning was found. The lesions of white matter (subcortical and/or periventricular leucoaraiosis) were observed in 76% of patients and single asymptomatic lacunar infarctions--in 20%. Cerebral vascular lesions were correlated with cognitive impairment. Anxiety and anxiety-depressive disorders which were not associated with the cerebral vascular lesion but related in large to the patient's complaints on headaches and vertigo were revealed in 62% of cases. The results of the study suggest that cognitive dysfunction proves to be the early and reliable predictor of chronic cerebral vascular disorder in patients with arterial hypertension.

[Cognitive functions and emotional state of post stroke patients on antihypertensive therapy].

To normalize arterial pressure (AP), combined antihypertensive therapy, basing on intake of 2,5-5 mg cilazapril, inhibitor of angiotensin-converting enzyme (IACE), was administered to 22 patients, 12 men, 10 women, aged from 49 to 74 years, mean age 63 +/- 7 years, who survived stroke (18 patients) or transitory ischemic attack (3 patients). Magnetic resonance tomography (MRT), i.e. perfusion regime, neuropsychological study and assessment of emotional state (Beck depression inventory and Spilberger anxiety scale) were conducted before and at the end of the treatment. During 6 months therapy, systolic blood pressure decreased from 154,7 +/- 12 to 128 +/- 23 mm HG and diastolic pressure from 90,3 +/- 9,6 to 79,4 +/- 23 mm Hg in all patients, without side-effects and development of stroke. There were neither new foci registered by MRT, no significant changes of cerebral blood flow. At the end of the treatment, cognitive functions were improved on the Mini Mental State Examination, on short-term memory test, Boston naming test and Wisconsin Card Sorting Test but no changes were found in emotional state of patients.