The effect of carotid artery disease on the cerebrovascular response to physiologic stimulation

Eight of 16 patients with severe carotid artery disease, but no evidence of functional or structural brain damage, had abnormal regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) responses to physiologic stimulation of sensorimotor cortex (unilateral reduction in six, abnormal diffuse increase in two). Thus, in patients with cerebrovascular disease the rCBF responses during physiologic tasks may not be reliable indicators of local neuronal activity.