EFFECTS OF FASUDIL HYDROCHLORIDE ON CEREBRAL BLOOD-FLOW IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC CEREBRAL INFARCTION

To evaluate the effect of the novel intracellular calcium antagonist f asudil hydrochloride, cerebral blood flow (CBF) was measured quantitat ively with positron emission tomography following the intravenous admi nistration of fasudil in five patients with chronic cerebral infarctio n. The hemispheric mean CBF increased significantly on both hemisphere s 30, 60, and 90 min after the administration of fasudil when the CBF values were corrected according to PaCO2 level, although there was no significant change in raw CBF data. A significant increase of CBF was seen in the cerebellar hemisphere and thalamus at 30 min and in the oc cipital cortex at 90 min. There was no significant fall in the systemi c blood pressure after the administration of fasudil.