Study of regional cerebral blood flow with IMP-SPECT before and after administration of nilvadipine

Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) was measured quantitatively by IMP-SPECT before and after administration of nilvadipine. The drug was administered at a dose of 8 mg/day for 8 or more weeks in 7 patients with chronic multiple cerebral infarction, one with hydrocephalus with normal pressure, and one with alcoholic encephalopathy. An average rCBF was increased after administration in all 6 patients with cerebral infarction confined to the perforated branch, with significant difference from the value before administration. In the other with cerebral infarction in both the perforated branch and the cortical branch, however, there was no change in average rCBF. In patients with hydrocephalus and alcoholic encephalopathy, on the other hand, post-administration rCBF tended to be lower than pre-administration rCBF. These results suggest that nilvadipine may be effective in increasing rCBF for patients with cerebral infarction confined to the perforated branch. (N.K.)