BACKGROUND: Transcranial Doppler (TCD) is a non-invasive sonographic procedure with various proven and potential use in clinical practice. It is however available only in a few tertiary centers in the Philippines. Local data of patients who have had the procedure, such as clinical and sonographic characteristics, are also limited.

OBJECTIVE: Describe the clinical profile, and sonographic findings of patients referred for TCD at the UP-PGH Diosdado Macapagal Stroke Center Vascular Laboratory from 2006-2007.

METHOD: Records of patients referred for TCD were reviewed. The patients were mostly adults (96.4%), with a 1. 1:1 male-to-female ratio. Ischemic stroke (84.5%) was the most common clinical diagnosis. Intracranial atherosclerosis was noted in 33.6% of patients. Generalized increase pulsatility index and poor temporal window were noted in 19.3% and 22.4% of patients, respectively. Of the 13 subarachnoid hemorrhage patients included, 9 (69.2%) have sonographic evidence of vasospasm.

CONCLUSION: The patients referred for transcranial doppler were mostly adult ischemic stroke patients. Intracranial atherosclerosis was noted in a third of these patients. Other sonographic findings noted were generalized increase in pulsatility index and poor temporal window. Vasospasm was also documented by TCD in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage.