ASSESSMENT OF PERIPHERAL VASCULAR EFFECTS OF ANTIMIGRAINE DRUGS IN HUMANS

The vascular beds of the forearm and finger can be used to study the p eripheral effects of antimigraine drugs under normal and pathologic ci rcumstances. We have investigated the novel antimigraine drug sumatrip tan, a selective agonist for 5KT(1) receptors. Its antimigraine effect may be attributed, at least in part, to constriction of cranial arter iovenous anastomoses (AVAs). In assessing the peripheral vascular effe cts of sumatriptan we used a forearm and finger blood flow model. Fore arm blood flow (FBF) is mainly determined by resistance vessels, where as finger blood flow (FiBF) mainly involves skin vessels, which contai n many AVAs. Changes in FBF and FiEF can be assessed using venous occl usion plethysmography. Changes in AVA now are determined by measuring the patency of the vascular beds of the forearm and hand to well-defin ed radiolabelled microspheres, which are injected into the brachial ar tery. We report the effects of sumatriptan on FBF, FiEF and AVA flow w hen administered into the brachial artery of healthy volunteers, and d iscuss the peripheral vascular effects of therapeutic-doses of sumatri ptan when given subcutaneously in migraine patients during and between attacks.