Clinical application of ultrasonic blood rheography for vertigo.

The blood flow in the vertebral artery was measured in 507 patients with vertigo using ultrasonic blood rheography. In 150 of the 507 cases (32%), abnormal findings including laterality and decreased flow were detected. Twenty-one cases whose clinical course was observed showed a decrease in the differences in velocity between sides as vertigo improved. VBI (vertebro-basilar insufficiency) showed a worse prognosis in patients with laterality compared with those without and a positive correlation was demonstrated between side differences and fluctuating blood pressure or serum lipids. Some anti-vertiginous drugs improved the difference between sides by increasing the velocity.