The brain is considered a complex structure. Therefore, various diseases do not pass him by. Some respond well to therapy and have little effect on human life, others require more attention from doctors. One of the fairly common pathologies is lateroventriculo-asymmetry of the brain. What it is?
Medical certificate
The main components of the brain are 4 ventricles. They are represented by small cavities. They constantly produce and circulate cerebrospinal fluid - cerebrospinal fluid. Its main purpose is to transport nutrients to cells and divert waste products. In addition, the cerebrospinal fluid plays a peculiar cushioning role in headaches.
Normally, each ventricle contains about 150 ml of cerebrospinal fluid. Three times a day it is completely updated. An increase in its volume provokes an increase in the size of the ventricles, a change in their shape. When the lateral C-shaped curvature disappears, the cavity becomes rounded. In this case, they talk about the initial stage of the lateroventriculo-asymmetry of the brain.
What it is? Such a terrible diagnosis means a violation characterized by an asymmetric change in the size of the ventricles. To a small extent, such changes are not considered pathology. However, their noticeable progression can lead to severe brain disorders. Enlarged ventricles begin to put pressure on the surrounding elements and structures, provoking impaired functioning of neurons. In some cases, death of nerve cells is observed.
Causes of anomaly
Pathology can either be congenital in nature or be the result of other health problems. In infants, lateroventriculoasymmetry is more common than in adults. Approximately every 500th newborn is diagnosed with an increase in the size of the ventricles, and in 80% of cases it is due to congenital malfunctions in the development of the brain. The remaining 20% are due to birth injuries. In a child, intrauterine abnormalities may appear due to a woman’s health problems during pregnancy. We are talking about such diseases as toxoplasmosis, rubella and mumps.
The causes of lateroventriculo-asymmetry of the brain in adults are somewhat different. Provoke an increase in cerebrospinal fluid and, as a consequence, the size of the ventricles can:
- skull injuries;
- previous neuroinfection (e.g., meningitis);
- tumors, cysts, hemangiomas;
- cerebral thrombosis.
An accurate determination of the causes of impaired outflow and excessive production of cerebrospinal fluid allows us to prescribe an effective treatment.
Clinical picture
Moderate lateroventriculo-asymmetry of the brain does not affect the human condition. The development of the pathological process can be said in the presence of pronounced changes in the lateral ventricles. In this case, the patient feels the symptoms of the primary disease, which provoked lateroventriculo-asymmetry. This may be a violation of sensitivity, memory, coordination, or thinking. Typically, the patient complains of:
- pain in the head, sensation of constriction and fullness;
- nausea and vomiting, especially in the morning;
- dizziness;
- state of anxiety.
The patient is constantly accompanied by apathy, drowsiness. Such symptoms of lateroventriculo-asymmetry of the brain indicate that the pathology is progressing. As a result of a violation of the outflow of cerebrospinal fluid, pressure on the brain increases, which leads to:
- oculomotor disorders;
- development of dementia;
- visual impairment;
- urinary incontinence;
- impaired motor function (gait becomes insecure).
If the anomaly is not treated in a timely manner, it can take a chronic form.
The course of the disease in children
The manifestation of the pathological process in young patients depends on age. Children are usually moody, they eat poorly. Their gaze is directed downward, but their eyes are overly open. In babies, the bones of the skull are supple and ductile. Therefore, violations can be manifested in an enlargement of the head in size. Often there is pulsation of the fontanel, swelling of the veins.
School children also suffer from lateroventriculo-asymmetry of the brain. What kind of disease is this - only a few know. Her development may be preceded by congenital malformations of the brain or malfunctions at the genetic level. At this age, the disorder manifests itself:
- the divergence of the seams between the bones of the skull;
- slow development;
- overweight;
- sharp mood swings;
- impaired ability to move eyeballs;
- problems with mental activity;
- reduced attachment to loved ones.
In adolescents, this disease is a consequence of cranial injuries or infections. It is accompanied by severe headaches, vomiting and nausea, convulsions. Psychoses are not excluded.
Diagnostic Methods
To prescribe treatment and tell what the lateroventriculo-asymmetry of the brain is - these are the tasks of a specialist. If symptoms of the disorder appear, consult a physician immediately. After studying the clinical picture and complaints, the doctor will refer you to a neurologist. It is this specialized specialist who can confirm the preliminary diagnosis. For this purpose, he appoints a patient a comprehensive examination, which consists of the following measures:
- CT, MRI. These methods are considered the most informative. Using tomography, you can assess the condition of the ventricular system, determine the causes of impaired cerebrospinal fluid outflow.
- Echoencephaloscopy.
- Electroencephalography.
- Fundus examination.
If the listed diagnostic options for lateroventriculo-asymmetry of the brain give conflicting results, lumbar puncture is prescribed. The results of the analysis of cerebrospinal fluid can accurately determine the causes of deformity of the lateral ventricles.
Drug therapy
Treatment of lateroventriculo-asymmetry of the brain with drugs is prescribed only with a pronounced clinical picture. The main direction of such therapy is the elimination of the underlying disease, which provoked a change in the size and shape of the ventricles. For this purpose, drugs from the following groups are recommended:
- Diuretics.
- Neuroprotectors.
- Vascular agents.
- Nootropic drugs.
- Sedative medicines.
- Anti-inflammatory drugs.
All medications, as well as their dosage, are selected individually.
The need for surgery
When conservative therapy is ineffective, surgery is prescribed. In the place of the largest accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid, puncture is performed. If a tumor is the cause of compression of the outflow pathways of the cerebrospinal fluid, its removal is necessary.
In modern medical practice in the treatment of lateroventriculoasymmetry, ventricular bypass surgery has become widespread. During the procedure, the doctor establishes a shunt, with which the cerebrospinal fluid begins to flow into the bladder. After surgery, the patient can return to the usual rhythm of life. Intracranial pressure gradually decreases, and the remaining symptoms of malaise disappear. Unfortunately, shunting in half of cases eventually loses its effectiveness. The development of complications is not excluded, among which there is inflammation of the soft tissues and the attachment of a secondary infection. In this case, a repeated operation with the replacement of the shunt is required.
Consequences of the disease
A common question asked by specialists in almost all patients with a diagnosis of “lateroventriculo-asymmetry of the brain”: is it dangerous? To answer it clearly is not possible.
If there is an unexpressed form of the disease, when changes in the lateral ventricles do not cause discomfort to the patient, specific therapy is not required. Just observe the anomaly. In the case of a progressive illness, treatment is necessary. It can be both medical and surgical. If you ignore the manifestations of the disorder and do not seek help from a doctor, the likelihood of developing complications increases. In addition to impaired consciousness and motor function, such a patient is threatened with a coma.