Cerebral hyperperfusion syndrome, also known as reperfusion syndrome, is a dysregulated state of cerebral blood flow following the restoration of arterial blood flow to the brain, usually following treatment of

carotid artery stenosis Carotid artery stenosis is a narrowing or constriction of any part of the carotid arteries, usually caused by atherosclerosis. Signs and symptoms The common carotid artery is the large artery whose pulse can be felt on both sides of the neck ...

. Risk factors include hypertension, particularly high blood pressures in the first few days following revascularization and bilateral stenosis.

Symptoms

The first symptom is usually severe headache, and a headache in the setting of recent

carotid endarterectomy Carotid endarterectomy is a surgical procedure used to reduce the risk of stroke from carotid artery stenosis (narrowing the internal carotid artery). In endarterectomy, the surgeon opens the artery and removes the plaque. The plaque forms and ...

carotid stenting Carotid artery stenting is an endovascular procedure where a stent is deployed within the lumen of the carotid artery to treat narrowing of the carotid artery and decrease the risk of stroke. It is used to treat narrowing of the carotid artery i ...

should prompt a return to the hospital and close attention by clinicians. Symptoms may progress to

seizures An epileptic seizure, informally known as a seizure, is a period of symptoms due to abnormally excessive or neural oscillation, synchronous neuronal activity in the brain. Outward effects vary from uncontrolled shaking movements involving much o ...

and

coma A coma is a deep state of prolonged unconsciousness in which a person cannot be awakened, fails to respond normally to painful stimuli, light, or sound, lacks a normal wake-sleep cycle and does not initiate voluntary actions. Coma patients exhi ...

in severe cases.

Treatment

Treatment is control of the blood pressure, often with continuous intravenous antihypertensives medicines in the intensive care setting. Seizures may require treatment with

anti-seizure medication Anticonvulsants (also known as antiepileptic drugs or recently as antiseizure drugs) are a diverse group of pharmacological agents used in the treatment of epileptic seizures. Anticonvulsants are also increasingly being used in the treatment of b ...

References

{{reflist Brain disorders Cardiovascular physiology Neurotrauma