The effects of E-0687 on the regional cerebral blood flow in the chronic patients of ischemic cerebrovascular diseases.

E-0687 is a newly developed agent which has protective action against cerebral hypoxia by improving cerebral monoamine metabolism according to animal experi ments.We studied the effects of E-0687 on regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in patients of chronic ischemic. cerebrovascular diseases by oral administration (150 mg/day) for a period of 8-14 weeks.Nine patients with mild cerebral infarction and one patient with carotid TIA, mean age 63 years, were studied. The control group consisted of twelve subjects, mean age 54years. rCBF was measured by the Xe 133 inhalation method using a NOVO cerebrograph, and F1 value was calculated by Fourier Analysis used as gray matter flow. The interval of rCBF measurements was 8-14 weeks in the treated group.There were no significant changes in mean arterial blood pressure (MABP), Ht, and PCO2 before and after the treatment. Mean rCBF significantly increased (10.5%) in the treated group in contrast to the change in the control group (-2.3±7.5%, mean± SD). The rCBF showed a tendency to increase in all regions. Fig. 6 showed a typical case of improved rCBF by long-term administration of E-0687.The subjective symptoms in this case were also improved after treatment.E-0687 significantly improved rCBF in chronic ischemic cerebrovascular diseases by oral administration for 8-14 weeks. This effect on cerebral circulation might be a secondary effect stemming from improvement of the brain metabolism.