AJDRAJNR - American Journal of Neuroradiology

Published ahead of print on February 26, 2009
doi: 10.3174/ajnr.A1538
This Article
Free to Access This article has been Unlocked
Right arrow Figures Only
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
ajnr.A1538v1
ajnr.A1538v2
30/5/876    most recent
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Vagal, A.S.
Right arrow Articles by Zuccarello, M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Vagal, A.S.
Right arrow Articles by Zuccarello, M.

American Journal of Neuroradiology 30:876-884, May 2009
© 2009 American Society of Neuroradiology

Review Article

The Acetazolamide Challenge: Techniques and Applications in the Evaluation of Chronic Cerebral Ischemia

A.S. Vagala,d, J.L. Leacha,c,d, M. Fernandez-Ulloaa and M. Zuccarellob,d

a Departments of Radiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
b Neurosurgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
c Department of Radiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
d The Neuroscience Institute, Cincinnati, Ohio

Please address correspondence to Achala S. Vagal, MD, Department of Radiology, Section of Neuroradiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, 234 Goodman St, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0762; e-mail: vagala{at}healthall.com

SUMMARY: The acetazolamide (ACZ) challenge test is a useful clinical tool and a reliable predictor of critically reduced perfusion. In patients with chronic steno-occlusive disease, the ability to maintain normal cerebral blood flow by reducing vascular resistance secondary to autoregulatory vasodilation is compromised. Identification of the presence and degree of autoregulatory vasodilation (reflecting the cerebrovascular reserve) is a significant prognostic factor in patients with chronic cerebrovascular disease. The pharmacologic challenge of a vasodilatory stimulus such as ACZ can also be used to optimize the treatment strategies for these patients. The pathophysiology, methods, and clinical applications of the ACZ challenge test are discussed in this article.






Copyright © 2010 by the American Society of Neuroradiology. Print ISSN: 0195-6108 Online ISSN: 1936-959X