Abstract
Hemorheological impairment is thought to be one of the pathological conditions of vertebro-basilar insufficiency (VBI). To determine the contribution of impaired red blood cell deformability (RCD), one of the important factors of hemorheological impairment, to the pathogenesis of VBI, RCD was measured and compared between a group of VBI patients (21 males, 42 females) and a group of control adults without vertigo (22 males, 23 females). Diagnosis of VBI was based on the Guidelines established by the Japan Society for Equilibrium Research. RCD was measured by the red blood cell (RBC) centrifugation method according to the criteria established by the International Committee for Standardization in Haematology. RCD was significantly decreased in the VBI group (p<0.01). Blood levels of total cholesterol and triglyceride in the VBI group were significantly higher than those in the control group (p<0.05). RCD was not correlated with RBC counts, Hb, Ht, MCV, MCHC, platelet count or total cholesterol or triglyceride level. Administration of dilazep dihydrochloride (300 mg/day for 8 weeks) to VBI patients induced significant (p<0.05) improvement in RCD and relieved vertiginous symptoms. Vertigo in VBI is considered to result from a combination of conditions involving microcirculation disorder induced by decreased RCD, decreased vertebral arterial blood flow due to high blood levels of total cholesterol and triglyceride, and rapid occurrence of right-left difference in blood flow by action stimulation.
