Increased intracranial blood flow volume in a preeclamptic woman with postpartum photophobia.

Abstract

Cerebral circulatory changes in preeclampsia are unclear. We studied the changes in intracranial blood flow volume using a new color Doppler ultrasonographic assessment in a preeclamptic woman with photophobia. A 39-year-old preeclamptic primigravida was admitted and delivered by cesarean at 36 weeks' gestation. She developed bilateral photophobia with blood pressure elevation at 2 days postpartum. Blood flow volume index [mean velocity x pid(2)/4] (d = luminal diameter at systolic phase) was established. The sum of blood flow volume indexes of the bilateral internal carotid arteries and vertebral arteries increased at the onset of photophobia and blood pressure elevation. The blood flow volume index increased above 120 mm Hg of mean arterial blood pressure. These data represent the increased cerebral hemodynamic changes in preeclampsia with photophobia.