Recurrent episodes of aggravation in left hemiparesis were observed in a case in which a mild hemoconcentration and a leftward shift of blood oxygen dissociation curve were confirmed. Improvement of left hemiparesis was noted after the combined therapy with exsanguination and isovolemic infusion of saline.
A pathophysiological discussion was also made with relation to cerebral circulation and various hemorheological factors.
A 63-year-old right-handed man was admitted on September, 22, 1978, complaining of recurrent attacks of weakness in the left extremities. He had had a ten year history of hypertension, for which hydrochlorothiazide had been administered. Two days prior to the admission he caught a cold and had a slight fever.
Physical examination at admission revealed an obese man with a blood pressure of 196/110 mmHg. No bruit was audible at the neck. He was alert and well oriented. The cranial nerves were intact except for slight flattening of the left nasolabial fold. He had a mild left hemiparesis with left sided hyperreflexia, however, he could walk without any support.
Laboratory examinations showed that hematocrit was 52%, hemoglobin 17.0 g/dl, red-cell count 5760000, white-cell count 9700, platelet count 199000. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate was 8 mm per hour. Platelet adhesiveness was 50%, and platelet aggulutination test was 39% (ADP) and 78% (collagen). The other routine laboratory data were in the normal range. An X-ray film of the chest revealed mild cardiac enlargement. An electrocardiogram demonstrated a normal rhythm with high voltage of R- wave and changes in ST- segment and T- wave consistent with left ventricular hypertrophy. Computed tomography of the brain, performed with and without contrast material, showed no abnormality. Cerebral angiography revealed only mild elongation of main branches of the carotid and vertebral arteries. Blood oxygen dissociation curve was measured by Hemox-Analizer (normal value of P50 was 25.6 mmHg.) and P50 was 24.7 mmHg.
After admission he slept for one hour, and when he awoke he noticed that he could not raise the left arm and leg. The blood pressure was 160/100 mmHg. Several minutes later he could raise his left arm and leg and at that tire time his blood pressure was raised to 200/110 mmHg. For following three hours several attacks of aggravation of left hemiparesis were occurred. During attack of aggravation of left hemiparesis, a trial of inhalation of 7% CO
2, with air induced immediate disappearance of left hemiparesis accompanied with an increase of cerebral blood flow (CBF) which was confirmed by a decrease of cerebral (A-V) O
2. After hyperventilation, an aggravation of left hemiparesis was reappeared accompanied with a decrease of CBF. After 400 ml exsanguination and isovolemic infusion of isotonic saline, the attacks of aggravation of left hemiparesis were subsided and CBF was increased. On the fourth day after the onset, blood oxygen dissociation curve showed a compensatory rightward shift and the aggravation of left hemiparesis was not induced any more after hyperventilation.
From these evidences it was surmised that the main pathogenic factors of cerebral circulation in the case were disturbance of microcirculation in the brain due to hemoconcentration and decreased oxygen transport.
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