Capillary flow disturbances are proposed as a shared feature of risk factors for cerebral small vessel disease and a potential therapeutic target to prevent stroke and cognitive decline.
Capillary dysfunction and flow disturbances are proposed as key mechanisms in the pathogenesis of cerebral small vessel disease, stroke, and cognitive decline.
Cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) gives rise to one in five strokes worldwide and constitutes a major source of cognitive decline in the elderly. SVD is known to occur in relation to hypertension, diabetes, smoking, radiation therapy and in a range of inherited and genetic disorders, autoimmune disorders, connective tissue disorders, and infections. Until recently, changes in capillary patency and blood viscosity have received little attention in the aetiopathogenesis of SVD and the high risk of subsequent stroke and cognitive decline. Capillary flow patterns were, however, recently shown to limit the extraction efficacy of oxygen in tissue and capillary dysfunction therefore proposed as a source of stroke-like symptoms and neurodegeneration, even in the absence of physical flow-limiting vascular pathology. In this review, we examine whether capillary flow disturbances may be a shared feature of conditions that represent risk factors for SVD. We then discuss aspects of capillary dysfunction that could be prevented or alleviated and therefore might be of general benefit to patients at risk of SVD, stroke or cognitive decline.
Østergaard et al. (Wed,) conducted a review in Cerebral small vessel disease. Capillary flow disturbances was evaluated. Capillary flow disturbances are proposed as a shared feature of risk factors for cerebral small vessel disease and a potential therapeutic target to prevent stroke and cognitive decline.
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