A comparison between the pathophysiology of multiple sclerosis and normal pressure hydrocephalus: is pulse wave encephalopathy a component of MS?

Table 2 Brain blood flow in normal, multiple sclerosis and normal pressure hydrocephalus patients

	Age (years)	Arterial inflow (ml/min)	SSS outflow (ml/min)	ST outflow (ml/min)	%SSS	%ST
Normal young n = 20
Mean	43	792	356	108	46	14
SD	16	142	76	29	8	3
Normal elderly n = 12
Mean	70	709	310	91	44	13
SD	5	110	65	30	9	4
p value NY vs NE	0.0001*	NS	0.03*	NS	NS	NS
Multiple sclerosis n = 20
Mean	43	783	311	95	41	12
SD	12	160	44	28	7	4
p value MS vs NY	NS	NS	0.01*	NS	0.05*	NS
Normal pressure hydrocephalus n = 20
Mean	74	567	197	68	36	13
SD	7	148	49	24	9	5
p value NPH vs NE	NS	0.02*	0.0005*	0.05*	0.03*	NS

SSS sagittal sinus sinus; ST straight sinus; %SSS percentage of arterial inflow drained by the SSS; %ST percentage of arterial inflow drained by ST; SD standard deviation; *t test p value <0.05; MS multiple sclerosis; NS not significant; NPH normal pressure hydrocephalus; NY normal young; NE normal elderly; p values are adjusted for age

ISSN: 2045-8118