Correlation of severity of aphasia with cerebral blood flow

In 46 patients with aphasia due to cerebral infarction, regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) was measured by 133Xe inhalation method, and relationship between severity of aphasia and degree of rCBF reduction was investigated. Measurements of rCBF were performed after 2 months of ictus in all patients. At the time of rCBF measurements, the severity of aphasia was mild in 13, moderate in 16 and severe in the other 17 patients. Control rCBF values were obtained from 16 subjects who had neither neurological deficits nor abnormal findings on CT scan. In control group, mean hemispheric rCBF values (mCBF), which were calculated from initial slope index, were 49.1 +- 3.8 and 49.4 +- 3.9 respectively in the right and left hemisphere. In all aphasic patients but two who had mild aphasia, mCBF in the left hemisphere showed lower values as compared to that in the right hemisphere. The mCBF in the left hemisphere was 46.5 +- 5.3 in the mild group, 41.3 +- 5.8 in the moderate group and 34.3 +- 5.0 in the severe group. The values in the moderate and severe groups were significantly reduced as compared to the control or those in the mild group. The mCBF in the severe group was also significantly lower than those in the moderate group. The mCBF in the right hemisphere was 48.4 +- 6.3 in the mild group, 45.6 +- 6.1 in the moderate group and 38.6 +- 4.9 in the severe group. The values in the severe group were significantly reduced as compared to those in the other groups as well as the control. The present study suggests that measurements of rCBF by 133Xe inhalation method are valid for the evaluation of severity of aphasia in stroke patients. (author)