Vascular encephalopathy. Vascular encephalopathy – foci of necrosis in the brain

Vascular form encephalopathy represents a general lesion of the brain, which is caused by insufficient blood supply to the organ, causing ischemic changes, oxygen deficiency, causing hypoxia, and a number of diseases. Violations cerebral circulation and, as a consequence, hypoxia has a detrimental effect on neuronal cells. On initial stage pathological process a small focus of neuronal death occurs, but in the absence of appropriate therapy, more and more areas of the brain are affected, the symptoms intensify, leading to irreversible changes.

IN last years vascular encephalopathy has become hot topic, since the age threshold for the disorder has noticeably decreased, practitioners are increasingly diagnosing it in young patients who complain of symptoms characteristic of brain pathologies. Besides, similar condition The brain develops against the background of common ailments: hypertension, atherosclerosis, venous thrombophlebitis.

According to the nature of origin, encephalopathy is divided into:

Congenital- caused by intrauterine disorders of brain development, intracranial injury, which the child received during childbirth, hereditary disorders metabolic processes, etc.
Purchased- develop throughout a person’s life due to exposure to negative external factors, injuries, various diseases, metabolic disorders.

Reasons for the development of the disorder

As we already said, pathological condition may occur in a child during intrauterine development or during childbirth. IN different periods life disturbance may be caused by:

Hypertension associated with pressure surges, pathological hypotension.
Exposure to toxic compounds.
Traumatic brain injuries.
Kidney and liver diseases, disorders of the pancreas, causing an increase in the content toxic substances in the blood and their penetration into the brain tissue.
Exposure of the brain to radioactive radiation.
Development of malignant neoplasms.
, as a result of which hypoxia develops.

With encephalopathy in the brain, the number of fully functioning neurons decreases, small foci of necrosis appear, blood stagnation develops, and swelling of the meninges and hemorrhages are observed. Pathological foci are most often localized in the white or gray matter.

Types of pathology

The identification of types of disorders is based on what vascular pathology caused the disorder. The most common encephalopathies are:

Atherosclerotic- develops as a result of blockage of cerebral vessels with atherosclerotic plaques and the occurrence of hypoxia. The disorder is more often diagnosed in older people, but it is also possible in at a young age with elevated cholesterol levels caused by various reasons. This type of encephalopathy develops over a long period of time, but in the absence timely diagnosis and treatment, can manifest itself in a sharp form, leading to serious complications.
Hypertensive- arises as a result acute nephritis, eclampsia, sharp jumps blood pressure or hypertensive crisis, which is most dangerous. The encephalopathy that develops during a crisis and the changes associated with it are irreversible and have an unfavorable prognosis.
Venous- develops gradually, due to blood stagnation, after the appearance of the first symptoms, and may not cause a noticeable deterioration in well-being for several years. In case of effective treatment in the early stages, the disorder is completely reversible, but in the absence of therapy it quickly progresses and leads to serious consequences.

Other forms of impairment

There are a number of less common types of encephalopathy:

Hypoxic-ischemic- the above types of disorders can also be attributed to this form, since circulatory disorders entail the development ischemic changes brain tissue and hypoxia. Characteristic difference This type of disorder is common in children in the first month of life. May occur during fetal development or during childbirth, leading to both minor damage brain, manifested in hyperactivity and absent-mindedness, as well as serious pathologies.
Leukoencephalopathy- the most severe version of the disorder, with which the patient can live for a maximum of two years. Acute forms usually end in death within a month. Focal lesion white matter is not treatable and has viral nature. Most often, the disease is diagnosed in elderly people with weakened immune systems.

To date, there is no method of treating leukoencephalopathy. This is explained by the presence at the approaches to the brain of a peculiar protective barrier, through which medications aimed at eliminating the causative virus do not penetrate. The reason lies in the fact that the barrier allows only fat-soluble substances to pass through. pharmaceuticals, while the drugs indicated in this case are mostly water-soluble.

Signs of the disorder

Common to different forms disorders are the following symptoms:

Headache migraine-like and dizziness.
Tinnitus.
Decreased hearing and visual acuity.
Sudden mood swings.
Fast fatiguability.
Psycho-emotional disorders - increased irritability, depressive states, tearfulness.
Sleep disorders.
Deterioration of short-term memory.
Inability to concentrate, absent-mindedness.
Coordination problems.
Numbness of fingers and toes.

There are three stages of encephalopathy:

Compensated- the body more or less copes with developing pathology, painful symptoms are mild. A person suffers from headaches, dizziness, and a feeling of heaviness in the head. At night a person cannot sleep, and during the day, on the contrary, he suffers from drowsiness and lethargy.
Subcompensated- vascular pathology progresses, lesions of brain tissue become more extensive. The patient has an unsteady gait, constant noise in the ears, symptoms of diseases that cause encephalopathy appear.
Decompensation- due to increasing hypoxia, atrophic phenomena develop in the cerebral cortex, symptoms appear very clearly, therapeutic measures do not bring a noticeable effect.

How to diagnose

First of all, the doctor examines the patient, listens to his complaints and studies the medical history. To clarify the diagnosis, the following methods are used:

Computer and magnetic resonance imaging.
Ultrasound examination - Doppler ultrasound, duplex and.
Electroencephalography.
Nuclear magnetic resonance.
Biochemical analysis of blood, cerebrospinal fluid and urine.

Treatment methods for the disorder

After vascular encephalopathy of the brain has been diagnosed, treatment is prescribed, primarily aimed at eliminating the cause of the disorder. In the future, a course of comprehensive drug therapy, lasting from one to three months. To loosen painful symptoms and improve the condition of blood vessels, the following drugs are used:

Angioprotectors - Etamzilat, Vasobral.
Hypolipidemic agents, normalizing increased level saturated fatty acids and reducing the likelihood of atherosclerosis - Polysponin, Miscleron.
Vasoactive agents - Cinnarizine, Cavinton.
Phlebotonics used for vein pathologies - Troxevasin, Aescusan.
Nootropics - Nootropil, Piracetam.
Vitamin and mineral complexes.

Physiotherapy has a positive effect, physiotherapy and other procedures. However, you should always remember that this is helper methods, which work only in combination with the main therapeutic course.

Vascular encephalopathy brain - what is it and how dangerous is it for humans? Independent disease this pathology is not, its manifestations are associated with a violation normal nutrition brain cells, lack of oxygen and nutrients. Read this article to the end to find out how it appears vascular encephalopathy of the brain, what it is and what it can lead to.

Encephalopathic brain damage leads to functional pathologies due to lack of oxygen against the background of vascular disorders.

general characteristics

Among other types of encephalopathies, vascular encephalopathy is characterized by slow development, which makes its diagnosis difficult. The disease occurs as a result of diseases of the blood vessels that supply the brain, leading to a lack of oxygen in brain cells.

The vascular type of encephalopathy also develops for other reasons; they are classified as follows:

Atherosclerotic on the background general atherosclerosis brain vessels.
Bilirubin resulting from jaundice.
Congenital arising on later pregnancy.
Hypertensive caused by the development of hypertension.
Hypoglycemic resulting from a deficiency of glucose in the blood.
Hypoxic, occurs due to metabolic disorders leading to oxygen starvation.
Diabetic, is caused by a long course of diabetes mellitus and is accompanied by asthenic syndrome.
Radial, due to severe radiation exposure.
Acute psychotic azotemic(mental disorder with overexcitation of the nervous system).
Hepatic, due to chronic inflammation liver, viral nature.
Portosystemic, develops against the background of portosystemic shunting and is reversible, with temporary mental disorders.
DEP caused by a complex of reasons, including atrosclerosis and hypertension.
Toxic, due to long-term use drugs with neurotropic properties.
Traumatic, develops after a head injury.
Encephalopathy venous type , caused by deceleration venous outflow from cerebral vessels.
Encephalopathy due to Martland syndrome, typical for professional boxers.
Encephalopathy after prolonged loss of consciousness or coma (postanoxic).

Thus, the disease is distinguished by the fact that it is caused precisely by disturbances in the supply of oxygen to brain tissue due to vascular diseases.

Symptoms and manifestations

An outside observer can suspect a disease in a person by characteristic features indicating mental disorders.

With encephalopathy, multiple symptoms of mental dysfunction are observed:

lack of initiative in labor activity;
insomnia at night;
fast fatiguability
viscosity of thinking;
ringing or noise in the head;
monotonous, incoherent talkativeness;
impaired coordination of movements, dizziness;
general depression;
lack of desires, including life;
tearfulness;
drowsy daytime state;
narrowing the range of interests;
decrease in vocabulary;
memory impairment and confusion;
frequent or persistent headaches;
emotional instability.

Behavior reveals a significant decrease in intelligence; even in simple situations, patients with encephalopathy experience difficulties with decisions and actions. The slow and gradual decline of intelligence ultimately leads to severe dementia.

DEP is caused by a lack of blood in vascular bed, its slow current.

There are atherosclerotic, hypertensive and venous forms or types:

Atherosclerotic discirculatory encephalopathy occurs as a result of the development of atherosclerotic changes in the walls blood vessels, feeding the brain. Atherosclerotic plaques form on the walls great vessels emanating from the aorta. These vessels narrow their lumen, the volume of blood entering the brain becomes insufficient for its normal functioning. Dystrophy of nerve cells and their functional impairment. At cerebral atherosclerosis, as a rule, it is the higher ones who suffer mental functions.
Venous encephalopathy due to stagnation in the cerebral venous system. This phenomenon is due to the fact that the veins inside the skull are compressed. Excessive filling of the venous bed slows down the overall blood flow and impairs the supply of fresh blood saturated with oxygen to the brain. Nerve cells suffer from oxygen starvation and cease to function fully.
Hypertensive discirculatory encephalopathy is observed already at a young age, since high blood pressure due to narrowed arteries of the brain leads to insufficient blood circulation in the brain structures, which leads to a noticeable decrease in intelligence and emotional instability. Exacerbate the disease hypertensive crises, which accelerate the development of pathology.
Mixed discirculatory encephalopathy called a combination of hypertensive and atherosclerotic forms. In this case, atherosclerosis affects the main blood vessels, which leads to high blood pressure blood in them. Mixed form manifests itself in people in adulthood and old age. This form of vascular pathology also leads to dementia if therapeutic and preventive measures are not taken.
Vascular leukoencephalopathy of the brain differs in that white is affected with degenerative processes, and not Gray matter CNS, that is, not themselves nerve cells, and their fibers and connections. Symptoms of the lesion are similar to classical encephalopathy.

Stages

Since encephalopathy is vascular reasons develops gradually, then for greater accuracy of its diagnosis it is customary to distinguish three stages of the disease:

Cerebrovascular accidents at this stage are reversible. Appeared pathological changes in the structure and functions of nervous tissue are insignificant, their symptoms are nonspecific, they resemble many other diseases, from simple overwork to the consequences of injuries. The first stage of pathology, detected during diagnosis, makes it possible to reduce brain dysfunction to a minimum with the help of conservative treatment and physiotherapeutic procedures, rationally organized work and rest regime. Pay attention to the following symptoms:

the appearance of noises in the head;
persistent aching headaches;
the appearance of frequent and sudden dizziness;
restless sleep, insomnia;
memory problems;
lack of interest in learning new things;
unsteady, unsteady gait.

Characterized by attempts to tighten self-control over one’s behavior. The attitude towards other people changes, and a feeling of unfounded anxiety appears. The patient begins to commit spontaneous, rash acts, loses his social status. Symptoms that appear in the first stage of the disease intensify:

noticeable weakening of memory for recent events;
uncontrolled spontaneous actions and behavior;
appears pseudobulbar syndrome, that is, uncontrolled movement of facial muscles, sudden tearfulness or laughter for no reason;
dissatisfaction with others, anger appears;
constant depressed state of mind.

At this stage of the disease, loss of socialization, conflict, and inability to engage in permanent work become noticeable. Such patients are disabled, their capabilities are limited.

Stage of dementia, dementia. Patients become limited in their abilities, and basic mental functions are lost. DEP at the third stage of acquired dementia is characterized by the following signs and symptoms:

the ability to walk independently is gradually lost;
spontaneous emptying Bladder and intestines;
manifestation of symptoms of Parkinson's disease, loss of personality;
inability to serve oneself and eat food independently;
complete disinhibition of remaining mental functions;
total loss intellectual abilities, dementia.

When the third stage of encephalopathy occurs, the patient is unable to exist without outside help, is profoundly disabled. Under unfavorable conditions, the period from the first stage of pathology to the onset of the third is approximately 5 years.

Discirculatory encephalopathy in 10% of cases leads to irreversible senile dementia. The video in this article demonstrates the typical behavior of a person with senile dementia.

Diagnostic procedures

Encephalopathy caused by vascular insufficiency brain, requires the earliest possible diagnosis of the disease.

To confirm the initial diagnosis that the doctor makes when initial examination and examination, the following are prescribed:

laboratory tests of blood, urine, physiological tests;
instrumental examination methods.

In order to establish the presence of signs of advancing encephalopathy, the following is carried out:

electrocardiogram at rest and during exercise;
measurement blood pressure in the dynamics of the day;
taking an electroencephalogram;
performing rheoencephalography;
ultrasound examination of the vessels of the head and neck;
Carrying out echocardiography of the heart using an ultrasound machine;
computed tomographya;

Diagnostic procedures allow you to classify the disease and prescribe treatment as instructed.

Treatment

For the treatment of discirculatory encephalopathy, medications are prescribed that reduce blood pressure and improving metabolic processes. The price of the drugs is acceptable for treatment courses.

Table. Medications

A drug	Purpose	Mechanism of action
Concor	Antihypertensive	Basics therapeutic effect consists of a decrease in tone smooth muscle arteries, expansion of the lumen of blood vessels
Prestarium
Hartil
Atorvastatin	Anticholesterol	Suppress cholesterol synthesis in the liver
Rosuvastein
Diakarb	Diuretics	Promote the removal of fluid from body tissues due to the removal of sodium ions
Indapamide
Lasix
Cavinton	Improving cerebral blood flow	Stimulate cerebral blood flow, inhibit the enzyme Phosphodiesterase, improve the dynamic characteristics of blood
Cinnarizine
Actovegin	Antioxidants	React with active radicals, converting them into low-active radicals, preventing premature aging
Vitamin E
Mexidol
Solcoseryl
Vinpotropil	Nootropic	Accelerate the synthesis of RNA and DNA in nervous tissue, proteins, help speed up transmission nerve impulse, influence energy processes in cells
Neurox
Nootropil
Pantogam
Piracetam

Besides treatment medicines, encephalopathy is treated with other means:

acupuncture;
physiotherapy;
manual therapy;
surgical treatment;
bioresonance stimulation;
laser therapy.

Vascular (dyscirculatory) encephalopathy is a slowly progressive insufficiency of blood supply, as a result of which multiple small focal necrosis develops in the brain tissue. Vascular damage in most cases is caused by hypertension and atherosclerosis, which cause pathological changes in vascular wall. Less commonly, vascular encephalopathy occurs after injuries, tumors, infectious diseases brain, as well as in the presence of pathology in the cervical spine.

Discirculatory encephalopathy can develop at any age, but the disease is most common in older age groups. This disease progresses steadily, which can ultimately lead to disability and death.

Most common reasons

For the reason that led to the development of vascular encephalopathy, the following types are distinguished:

1. Atherosclerotic encephalopathy develops as a result of deposition cholesterol plaques into the wall of the vessel. At the same time, the elasticity of the blood vessels decreases, and they no longer independently regulate the flow of blood to the brain tissue; later, as cholesterol deposits increase, the small vessels of the brain become blocked and the blood supply to any small areas in which development occurs is stopped. small lesions necrosis.

2. Hypertensive encephalopathy is the result of long-term arterial hypertension. For high blood pressure numbers small vessels They shrink so much and decrease in diameter that some of them may stop blood flow, which also leads to the formation of small areas of necrosis of brain tissue.

In most cases, hypertension and atherosclerosis are “inseparable companions”; with an increase in blood pressure, atherosclerosis necessarily develops over time, and, conversely, the deposition of cholesterol in the vascular wall contributes to the occurrence of hypertension. But sometimes there are isolated variants of purely vascular or hypertensive encephalopathy.

3. Vertebrogenic vascular encephalopathy develops as a result of pathology cervical region spine. Salt deposits when cervical osteochondrosis compress blood vessels blood bearers to the head, the brain receives little blood, which leads to ischemia of the most distant areas.

4. Post-traumatic.

5. Vascular encephalopathy as a result of the presence of a brain tumor.

6. Post-infectious (after meningitis, encephalitis).

How does vascular encephalopathy manifest: all the signs

Symptoms depend on the type and stage of vascular encephalopathy:

Stage I - stage of compensation when the function of lost brain cells is taken over by neighboring ones. arise initial symptoms, the appearance of which signals the brain that its reserves are being depleted. There are no visible changes in the brain; everything happens at the microscopic level.

Characteristic features:

Stage II - subcompensation:

Stage III - decompensation. Nervous tissue begins to deteriorate, and the brain itself atrophies (decreases in size). The manifestations worsen, become more severe, the decline in memory and intelligence, and motor and coordination disorders progress. Changes can reach such an extent that a person finds himself bedridden disabled person, unable to care for themselves and in dire need of help from others.

The change of these stages occurs during the development of the disease, however, even in patients with stage I, periods of deterioration (decompensation) may occur, which, with proper treatment, pass, and the person quickly returns to the original state.

Treatment of the disease

Be sure to take:

drugs to lower blood pressure - lisinopril, amlodipine;

medications that normalize blood cholesterol levels - atorvastatin;

nootropics and neuroprotectors (to nourish the remaining brain cells and increase their reserves) - piracetam, Actovegin, Ceraxon;

antiplatelet agents (for blood thinning) - cardiomagnyl, polocard;

drugs to improve memory and intelligence - alzepil, bilobil, memodex;

painkillers - analgin, ibuprofen;

drugs for dizziness - betastin, cinnarizine;

vascular - sermion, aminophylline;

B vitamins.

Medicines for blood pressure, cholesterol and antiplatelet agents are used for life, the rest - in courses under the supervision of a doctor.

An important role in treating and slowing the progression of the disease is played by:

ethnoscience

1. Hawthorn tincture to improve cerebral circulation: 3 tablespoons of dried hawthorn berries are brewed in a thermos with 3 cups of boiling water. Drink the next day exactly half an hour before each meal, 1 glass at a time.

2. Beetroot with honey to lower blood pressure: honey is mixed with red beet juice in a ratio of 1:1 in equal quantities, consume 1 tablespoon 3 times a day immediately before meals.

3. Clover for noise in the head: Brew 2 tablespoons of clover flowers with 2 cups of boiling water. This amount of infusion should be drunk in 3 doses. Each of three servings is taken half an hour before meals.

4. Onion tincture: Shake onion juice with honey (in a 1:2 ratio), drink one tablespoon 3 times a day before meals.

The duration of treatment courses with such folk remedies can be 1-1.5 months, then a break of 1-2 months is required.

Vascular encephalopathy and the army

If a conscript is diagnosed with “vascular (dyscirculatory) encephalopathy,” he is not subject to conscription into the army in accordance with Art. 24 point “c”, but in this case the presence of the so-called pseudoneurotic syndrome is required (memory deterioration, fatigue, nervousness and irritability, tinnitus).

Encephalopathy is a disease in which diffuse dystrophic lesion brain, caused by congenital or acquired pathologies.

Congenital encephalopathy is most often caused by genetic disorders or abnormalities in brain development as a result of exposure negative factors during intrauterine development, as well as damage during childbirth (fetal hypoxia, birth trauma).

Acquired encephalopathies, depending on the cause, are divided into many types. The most common ones are:

Post-traumatic encephalopathy usually develops as a result. Moreover, signs of the disease may appear decades after the head injury.
The toxic form of the disease develops as a result of systemic exposure to the body of neurotropic substances, such as barbiturates, lead, and toxins of some fungi and bacteria.
Encephalopathies caused by metabolic disorders arising from diseases of internal organs. This group of encephalopathies is large, the most common are hepatic, uremic (for kidney disease), pancreatic (for diseases of the pancreas), hypoglycemic and hyperglycemic (for).
Encephalopathies, the development of which is caused by the influence of external factors on the brain (ionizing radiation, high temperatures).
Vascular (dyscirculatory) encephalopathies are associated with chronic disorder blood supply to the brain. The development of this form of the disease can be the result of hypertension, impaired venous outflow of blood from the brain and other diseases in which cerebral circulation is impaired. Often found mixed type dyscirculatory encephalopathy.

Symptoms of encephalopathy

Weakness, daytime sleepiness, decreased performance, irritability may indicate encephalopathy.

Clinical manifestations of this disease are very diverse and depend on the type of encephalopathy and the degree to which dystrophic changes in the brain are expressed.

The most early signs diseases are:

diffuse headaches;
noise in ears;
unstable mood, irritability;
sleep disturbance;
lethargy, weakness during the day, increased fatigue;
decreased mental performance;
impaired ability to concentrate;
memory impairment.

There are 3 stages of the disease:

Stage I (compensated) is manifested by cerebrasthenic syndrome ( emotional lability, increased excitability, irritability, sleep disturbance, memory impairment, headaches and dizziness). Patients may experience mental disorders in the form of asthenodepressive, paranoid and other syndromes.

Stage II (subcompensated) is characterized by an increase clinical symptoms, manifestations of encephalopathy that occurred in stage I of the disease are increasing. Headache bothers patients almost constantly, and tinnitus appears. The mood becomes depressed, patients are lethargic, inhibited, and tearful. Memory and ability to concentrate deteriorate even more. Possible loss of coordination of movements, the appearance of tremors of the hands and head, impaired vision and hearing, and the appearance of epileptiform seizures (convulsive syndrome).

Stage III (decompensated) is characterized by severe disturbances in brain function. Most often, symptoms of damage to any area of the brain begin to predominate: cerebellar disorders (impaired coordination of movement, extinction of deep reflexes, inability to maintain posture, etc.), paresis, speech disorders, sharp deterioration memory. Severe violations psychics can sometimes even lead to deep.

With sudden extensive damage to the brain, its swelling, significant disturbances of cerebral circulation, the clinical picture of encephalopathy will develop rapidly. Patients develop general anxiety, severe headaches, dizziness, nausea, repeated vomiting, and visual disturbances. Then such violent symptoms are replaced by lethargy, lethargy, and sometimes a disturbance of consciousness occurs. This acute development encephalopathy, accompanied by the symptoms described above, often develops with infarction pneumonia, thromboembolism pulmonary arteries and strokes.

Diagnosis of encephalopathy

For diagnosing the form of this disease, data from the patient’s life history and illness are of great importance, since in many cases encephalopathy is a symptom of another disease or the result of the influence of negative factors on the brain.

From instrumental studies patients undergo electroencephalography (EEG), computer, magnetic resonance, positron emission tomography, ultrasonography brain and neck vessels. To determine the presence of toxic substances in the patient’s body, blood, urine and cerebrospinal fluid tests are necessary. All other studies prescribed by the doctor are necessary for the diagnosis and treatment of the underlying disease.

Treatment of encephalopathy

In case of acute encephalopathy, the patient may be recommended to undergo hemodialysis.

Therapy for this disease is always comprehensive and is primarily aimed at treating the underlying disease and eliminating the factors that caused the development of encephalopathy.

At acute form In addition to drug therapy, patients may require the use of life support systems ( artificial ventilation lungs, hemodialysis, blood transfusions, long-term parenteral nutrition).

A lot is used to treat encephalopathy. various groups drugs. The choice of one or the other depends on the cause of the disease, the presence concomitant diseases And individual characteristics patient. Therefore, only a doctor can prescribe therapy; self-medication can be ineffective and life-threatening for the patient.

Patients undergo therapy aimed at correcting blood pressure, lipid metabolism, endocrine disorders, normalization of the liver, kidneys, pancreas, as well as other conditions that caused encephalopathy.

To improve metabolic processes in brain cells in patients with various forms for this disease, the doctor may recommend drugs from the following groups:

nootropics (piracetam, Cerebrolysin, Pantogam, Noopept, etc.);
amino acids ( glutamic acid, Glycine, Alvezin, etc.);
vitamins A, E, group B, folic and ascorbic acids;
agents that improve cerebral blood flow (Cavinton, Cinnarizine).

From non-drug methods treatment, patients may be recommended manual therapy, physiotherapy (electrophoresis with drugs, magnetic therapy, UHF, ultraviolet irradiation, hyperbaric oxygen therapy etc.), therapeutic exercises, acupuncture, massage of the collar area, etc.

In some cases, patients may need surgical treatment (for example, with traumatic brain injury, brain tumors, congenital anomalies cerebral vessels).

Which doctor should I contact?

Encephalopathy is treated by a neurologist. Consultations are scheduled at the same time specialized specialists depending on the cause of brain damage: a cardiologist for atherosclerosis and hypertension, an endocrinologist for diabetes mellitus, hepatologist at liver failure, nephrologist for uremia. Physiotherapy and massage, which are prescribed and carried out by appropriate specialists, help in treatment. In some cases, surgery is necessary, performed by a neurosurgeon.

The term encephalopathy describes a number of disorders or diseases of the brain and modern idea do not refer to one disease, but rather to a syndrome of common brain dysfunction. The syndrome can have many different organic and inorganic causes.

Timely detection of vascular encephalopathy of the brain and its timely treatment helps to slow down the development of dangerous pathological symptoms and alleviate the course of the disease.

Encephalopathy is a complex term because it can be used to refer to any disease or pathological feature in a patient.

When we're talking about about the observed pathological sign, this disease is permanent or degenerative, related to traumatic brain injury or any reversible process.

When we talk about this disease, we can talk about its relationship to a wide range of brain diseases of various etiologies, forecasts and consequences.

Certain signs found on clinical trial patient and indicating the presence of encephalopathy include intellectual impairment, irritability, agitation, delirium, confusion, somnolence, stupor, psychosis and coma.

Many people wonder: This is a serious complex disease caused by exposure to toxins from various chemical structure into the brain, while some of the vessels and nerves die.

Read about the risks of encephalopathy.

See about post-traumatic encephalopathy.

Types of encephalopathies

Chronic traumatic

This type of encephalopathy occurs when there is (usually multiple) brain injuries.

Impacts to the head damage nerves in the brain.

Commonly found in boxers, football players or military personnel who have suffered impact injuries from explosions.

Glycine

Glycine encephalopathy is genetic or hereditary disease. This is a condition in which there are abnormally high levels of glycine (an amino acid) in the brain. Glycine-type symptoms usually appear in children soon after birth.

Hashimoto's encephalopathy

This is a rare type of encephalopathy that is associated with autoimmune condition, known as Hashimoto's disease. For Hashimoto's disease, the immune system mistakenly attacks the thyroid gland. Thyroid responsible for the production of many hormones that regulate functions human body. It is not yet known exactly how these conditions influence the development of encephalopathy.

Hepatic

Hepatic encephalopathy is the result of liver disease.

When the liver does not function properly, toxins normally removed from the body by the liver accumulate in the blood and reach the brain, damaging it.

Hypertensive

Hypertensive encephalopathy is the result of high blood pressure if left untreated for too long. This can cause brain tissue to swell and become damaged.

Hypoxic ischemic

This type occurs when the brain does not receive enough oxygen, causing brain damage. This can lead to permanent brain damage or dysfunction. This encephalopathy, in particular, can occur when developing child exposed to alcohol in the womb.

Toxic-metabolic (toxic)

This type is the result of infections, toxins, or organ failure.

When electrolytes, hormones and others chemical substances in the body lose their normal balance, they can affect brain function.

This type of encephalopathy usually resolves when the body's basic chemical balance is restored or when toxins are removed from the body.

The disease may also include the presence of an infection in the body or the presence of toxic chemicals.

Infectious encephalopathies

Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies are also known as prion diseases. Prions are proteins found in the body. In some cases, these proteins can mutate and cause neurodegenerative changes that damage the brain.

Prion diseases include:

chronic wasting disease;
fatal familial insomnia;
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease;
Kuru disease.

Uremic appearance

Uremic encephalopathy results from renal failure. It is thought to be caused by the accumulation of uremia toxins in the blood. The disease can cause mild disorientation or deep coma.

Wernicke's encephalopathy

Also known as Wernicke's disease, it results from a deficiency of vitamin B-1 in the body. Long-term alcoholism poor nutrition and poor digestion of food can cause a deficiency of this vitamin.

If Wernicke's disease is not treated promptly, it can lead to Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome.

Mechanism of vascular encephalopathy

As a result of a certain pathological effect on the tissues and blood vessels of the brain, these tissues begin to gradually change.

Atherosclerotic degenerative changes in the vessels of the brain they provoke thrombosis (blockage) of the arteries, causing embolism - the appearance in the blood of particles (embolus) that are not found in the blood under normal conditions.

Blockage of blood vessels with atherosclerotic plaques

Embolism leads to increased blockage of blood vessels and increasing problems cerebral blood supply, causing hypoxia (lack of oxygen) in surrounding tissues.

These degenerative changes provoke disorders in the cells of the central nervous system due to developing failure in the neurons of the brain, which leads to destabilization of the entire internal neural environment, causing the formation free radicals, damaging cell membranes. As a result of these processes, the number of active cells of the central nervous system of the brain - synapses and neurons - decreases.

These changes, in turn, cause numerous pathological symptoms in patients associated with vascular encephalopathy.

Signs of the disease

Mental changes associated with vascular encephalopathy may include difficulty with memory or focusing the patient's attention. There may be problems with habitual skills in solving current problems, and lethargy and drowsiness may appear.

Changes in the patient's personality and character are also one of the signs of this disease.

Neurological symptoms of encephalopathy often include:

difficulty making decisions or concentrating;
muscle weakness of one part of the body;
involuntary muscle twitching;
difficulty speaking or swallowing;
muscle trembling (tremor);
seizures.

Due to the variety of signs and symptoms of the disease exact description his clinical picture difficult. If these signs appear, it is important to seek medical attention. medical care staged accurate diagnosis And timely treatment diseases.

About the principles of treatment

Treatment options for encephalopathy vary depending on what causes it.

Treatment includes medications to treat symptoms and the underlying cause of the disease, or even surgery.

In some cases of the disease, for example, with oxygen deficiency, the person may fall into a coma. In severe cases, life support may be required to prevent death.

Vascular encephalopathy of the brain treatment with folk remedies

In addition to medication treatment, alternative medicine offers many recipes for treating blood vessels. Folk remedies to dilate blood vessels can be used as an emergency measure or for long-term treatment diseases.

The following methods are very popular:

a compress on the forehead from decoctions of herbs (chamomile, sage, etc.) to strengthen blood vessels;
thyme decoction and rose hip tea help normalize blood pressure and dilate arterial walls;
aromatherapy essential oil lavender, mint or pine has a calming effect and beneficial influence on the circulatory system;
decoctions of viburnum, burdock or periwinkle have a vasodilating effect and eliminate spasmodic effects.

It is known that this is a slow-acting brain dysfunction, when tissue damage occurs slowly and the blood supply gradually deteriorates.

Read about hypertensive encephalopathy here.

Conclusion

Some types of encephalopathy, for example, hereditary ones, occur in humans regardless of external causes.

However, some types vascular diseases brain damage can be prevented.

First of all, it is important to avoid excessive alcohol intake, reduce exposure toxic substances, apply healthy diet and visit your doctor regularly.

The long-term prognosis of the disease depends on the cause and severity of the disease. Many forms of encephalopathy are reversible if their cause can be identified and treated. Healthy image life may help reduce risk factors for brain diseases.