Encephalopathy of the Head Brain

Encephalopathy of the brain (encephalosis, vascular encephalopathy, cerebropathy) is a diffuse brain damage that has a dystrophic character and is caused by various pathological conditions and diseases.

Vascular encephalopathy of the brain can be both congenital and acquired. Congenital encephalopathy can be caused by abnormalities in the development of the brain and various genetic defects of its metabolism. In addition, congenital encephalopathy can be associated with exposure in the perinatal period to damaging factors such as cerebral hypoxia or intracranial birth trauma.

Acquired encephalopathy of the brain arises from the effects on the brain of harmful factors already during the postnatal period. Depending on the pathogenesis and etiology, several types of acquired encephalopathy are distinguished:

- Post-traumatic encephalopathy - these are the late or late consequences of a previous cerebral trauma;
- toxic encephalopathy - a consequence of prolonged, systematic exposure to such neurotropic substances as ethyl alcohol, chloroform, barbiturate, lead and bacterial toxins;
- radiation encephalopathy - a condition caused by exposure to ionizing radiation.

In addition, there are also encephalopathy caused by various metabolic disorders that accompany diseases of internal organs. So, in the presence of liver diseases, which are accompanied by necrosis of liver cells and changes in its vascular system, harmful toxic substances not rendered harmless by the liver fall into the blood of a large circle of blood circulation, have a poisoning effect on the brain, lead to hepatic encephalopathy. There is also uremic brain encephalopathy, which is associated with renal pathology and uremia. Quite often pancreatic pathology as a complication of acute pancreatitis causes pancreatic encephalopathy of the brain. To metabolic encephalopathies also include: hypoglycemic, hyperglycemic and hyperosmolar encephalopathy.

The basis of the mechanism of encephalopathy is most often cerebral hypoxia - a consequence of deterioration of the cerebral blood supply, edema, venous congestion, as well as the effects on the brain of endogenous and exogenous toxins, which further aggravate the disturbances in brain metabolism. Features of different types of encephalopathy consist in the manifestation of changes and the predominant localization of the lesion, as well as in the degree of cerebral circulatory disturbance and predominance of lesions of white or gray brain matter.

Signs of brain encephalopathy .

There are a variety of clinical manifestations of encephalopathy. Early signs include memory impairment, decreased mental activity and performance, sleep disturbance, difficulty in changing activities, general fatigue and lethargy. Quite often, patients complain of diffuse headaches, unstable mood, tinnitus and irritability. During the neurologic examination, nystagmus, increased tendon reflexes and muscle tone, worsening of hearing and visual acuity, presence of pathological oral and pyramidal reflexes, impaired coordination of movements and various vegetative disorders are revealed.

With severe brain damage, brain edema and significant microcirculation disorders, a sharp development of the clinical picture of encephalopathy is possible: vomiting, nausea, general anxiety, severe and prolonged headache, visual disturbances, staggering, dizziness, sometimes numbness of fingers, lips, nose, and Language.

Diagnosis of encephalopathy, of great importance in which accurate history data is available, is carried out with the help of electroencephalography, as well as computed tomography.

Encephalopathy of the brain: treatment.

As already mentioned above, encephalopathies are always preceded by various abnormalities in the work of organs and systems, therefore treatment of encephalopathy should be comprehensive, directed towards the underlying disease that caused encephalopathy, and the common elements of symptomatology and pathogenesis. In the case of acute encephalopathy, various life support systems are used, such as hemodialysis, hemoperfusion, artificial lung ventilation, parenteral nutrition. Quite often, there is also a need for measures to eliminate signs of convulsive syndrome and reduce intracranial pressure. After these events, drugs are prescribed whose action is aimed at improving brain metabolism: amino acids, lyotropic compounds, vitamins A, E, group B, ascorbic and folic acid, antiplatelet agents and biostimulants. All medicines are prescribed combined, long-term, repeated courses in 1-3 months.