Doppler velocimetry of the middle cerebral artery and basilar artery in clinically healthy dogs of different age groups

Abstract

Background: Transcranial Doppler ultrasound is a low-cost test that provides real-time information on brain hemodynamics and makes it possible to detect and monitor hemodynamic disorders non-invasively by calculating Doppler velocimetric values. In veterinary literature, studies related to this diagnostic tool are still scarce, with most dating back more than a decade and very few involving the Doppler study of the arterial circle. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate qualitatively (color Doppler and spectral classification) and quantitatively (pulsed Doppler) the middle cerebral artery (MCA) and basilar artery (BA) of clinically healthy dogs of different age groups to determine normal hemodynamic values and their relationship with the age of the animals. Results: The end-diastolic velocity (EDV) and peak systolic velocity (PSV) values differed between young, adult, and elderly dogs for the right MCA and BA, and the left MCA, respectively (p < 0.05). No differences were observed in the resistivity and pulsatility indices between the three age groups. Conclusions: Doppler velocimetric flow velocities of right and left middle cerebral artery (RMCA and LMCA) and basilar artery (BA) vary with advancing age in clinically healthy dogs. Therefore, care must be taken while evaluating cerebral hemodynamic indexes in normal as well as diseased dogs belonging to different age groups.