Differential diagnosis of dyscirculatory encephalopathy in outpatient practice

Abstract

The differential diagnosis of dyscirculatory encephalopathy is one of the topical problems in Russian neurology. Forty-seven patients diagnosed with dyscirculatory encephalopathy and followed up in the polyclinic were examined. Only in 9 (19.2%) of them, the diagnosis was confirmed. Most patients were established to have other diseases, among which there were primary depressive and/or anxiety disorders (34%), primary headache (23.4), benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) (8.5%), and Alzheimer’s disease (10.6%). The paper describes patients with migraine and BPPV, in whom the detection and treatment of these diseases have yielded a positive effect. The examination of patients diagnosed with dyscirculatory encephalopathy with investigations of their cognitive and emotional functions, otoneurological examination, and psychiatric consultation (if indicated) makes it possible to identify other diseases presenting with the symptoms similar to dyscirculatory encephalopathy and to prescribe effective treatments.

Keywords

• dyscirculatory encephalopathy
• differential diagnosis
• cognitive impairments
• cognitive neuropsychology
• vascular dementia