Cerebral blood flow and carbon dioxide reactivity in children with bacterial meningitis

We examined total and regional cerebral blood flow (CBF) by stable xenon computed tomography in 20 seriously ill children with acute bacterial meningitis to determine whether CBF was reduced and to examine the changes in CBF during hyperventilation. In 13 children, total CBF was normal (62±20 ml/min/100 gm) but marked local variability of flow was seen. In five other children, total CBF was significantly reduced (26±10 ml/min/100 gm; p 2 ) levels: 40 (±3) mm Hg and 29 (±3) mm Hg. In six children, total CBF decreased 33%, from 52 (±25) to 35 (±15) ml/min/100 gm; the mean percentage of change in CBF per millimeter of mercury of Pco 2 was 3.0%. Regional variability of perfusion to changes in Pco 2 was marked in all six children. The percentage of change in CBF per millimeter of mercury of Pco 2 was similar in frontal gray matter (3.1%) but higher in white matler (4.5%). In the seventh patient a paradoxical response was observed; total and regional CBF increased 25% after hyperventilation. Our findings demonstrate that (1) CBF in children with bacterial meningitis may be substantially decreased globally, with even more variability noted regionally, (2) autoregulation of CBF is preserved. (3) CBF/CO 2 responsitivity varies among patients and in different regions of the brain in the same patient, and (4) hyperventilation can reduce CBF below ischemic thresholds.