Objectives: To use cerebrovascular hemodynamics indexes (CVDI) to evaluate the effects of nimodipine on cerebrovascular function in acute cerebral infarction (ACI), and to investigate the changes of blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), and electrocardiography (ECG).
Methods: 30 patients with ACI in internal carotid artery system within 72 h from the oneset of symptoms were given nimodipine (10 mg, 0.25-0.5 microgram/kg/min) by intravenous drip (i.v.) every day for 14 days. CVDI, BP, HR and ECG were examined at various times during treatment.
Results: Nimodipine improved cerebrovascular function significantly. Cerebral blood velocity and flow increased, cerebrovascular resistance and criticle pressure decreased, and cerebrovascular elasticity and autoregulation improved. BP dropped significantly at the third day, and mainteined stable afterward. HR dropped remarkably at the fourteen day (P = 0.011). It was reasonable that the treatment of nimodipine (i.v.) lasted 10 days or so.
Conclusions: Nimodipine improves cerebrovascular function significantly, but monitoring of BP and ECG is necessary during its application.