Is hypertension a risk factor of hemifacial spasm?

The published data on the relation between arterial hypertension (AH) and hemifacial spasm (HFS) are controversial. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of AH in HFS patients and the relation of AH and compression of the brainstem at the region of vasomotor center. The study included...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Neurologia i neurochirurgia polska 2016-01, Vol.50 (2), p.69-74
Main Authors: Rudzińska, Monika, Wójcik-Pędziwiatr, Magdalena, Malec-Litwinowicz, Michalina, Grabska, Natalia, Hartel, Marcin, Flak, Maria, Szczudlik, Andrzej
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Female
Hemifacial spasm
Hemifacial Spasm - epidemiology
Hemifacial Spasm - etiology
Humans
Hypertension
Hypertension - complications
Hypertension - epidemiology
Male
Medulla Oblongata
Middle Aged
Prevalence
Risk Factors
Ventro-lateral medulla modeling
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Summary:The published data on the relation between arterial hypertension (AH) and hemifacial spasm (HFS) are controversial. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of AH in HFS patients and the relation of AH and compression of the brainstem at the region of vasomotor center. The study included 60 of primary HFS patients and 60 healthy controls matched by age. AH was defined according to WHO criteria. The vessel compression of the brainstem was measure on MRI scans in selected region of vasomotor center located in the ventro-lateral medulla (VLM), between the pontomedullary junction, retro-olivary sulcus and the root entry zone (REZ) of the IX and X nerves. Modeling and compression severity of the VLM was graded in the 0–3 scale. The prevalence of AH in HFS patients did not differ significantly from the control group (61.6% vs 45.0%, p=ns). VML compression by vessel was frequently found in HFS patients with AH than without AH (97.2% vs 60.9%, χ2=11.0, p=0.0009). A similar relation was also found in the control group. The higher rate of VML vascular compression was related to the presence of AH in both, HFS patients and control group. The prevalence of AH in HFS patients does not differ from controls. The VLM compression in HFS patients and controls is related to AH diagnosis. The association between AH and VLM compression is stronger in patients with higher degree of VLM compression.
ISSN:0028-3843
1897-4260
DOI:10.1016/j.pjnns.2015.11.002