A complex cerebrovascular screening system (CERBERUS).

Abstract

Stroke is unique among neurological diseases since it has a high incidence rate, severe burden of illness, high economic cost, and it may be preventable [1]. Described here is a system for screening the cerebral and vascular status of individuals to detect the initial stages of vascular disorders. The computer based polygraphic system (CERBERUS) questions subjects about risk factors, stresses, neurologic symptoms and monitors impedance pulse waves of the head and extremities, EEG, and ECG. The system has been tested in 691 cases. Doppler control studies were carried out on approximately 300 of these cases. Additional somatic measures and psychological tests related to stroke risk factors were carried out for wide biological basis of possible correlation of CERBERUS data base. The high incidence of cerebrovascular disturbance was established by CERBERUS data, further confirmed by additional data gathered, and moreover was compared by traditional medical records. The polygraphic system is more sensitive at detecting physiological asymmetries of blood flow than even a Doppler measurements. This suggests that it may be a significantly improved means for the differential diagnosis of neurological disease and the screening of subjects for arteriosclerosis, transient ischemic attack and stroke prevention to be offered at the lowest level of medical service.