TRANSIENT NEUROLOGICAL EVENTS DURING DIPYRIDAMOLE STRESS TEST - AN ARTERIAL STEAL PHENOMENON

Dipyridamole-associated adverse neurological side effects have not bee n extensively described. We present two cases of dipyridamole-associat ed transient motor neurological events with no evidence of residual ne urological deficits detected clinically or by head CT, The patients sh owed no evidence of significant extracranial (internal carotid) artery disease. We propose the presence of a regional cerebral perfusion dis turbance due to an intracranial vascular steal phenomenon as the mecha nism for the above side effects of dipyridamole.