Effect of Papaverine on Regional Blood Flow in Focal Vascular Disease of the Brain

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Abstract
Since others have failed to find a consistent increase in regional cerebral blood flow with carbon dioxide inhalation, a question has arisen concerning the usefulness of vasodilating agents in the treatment of acute ischemic attacks. We administered intravenous papaverine to six patients with focal cerebral vascular disease confirmed by cerebral angiography. Regional cerebral blood flow was measured from 43 brain areas by means of the radioactive xenon clearance method. Mean cerebral blood flow before and after papaverine was 34 and 40 ml per 100 gm per minute, an 18 per cent increase. In addition, eight of 20 probes over angiographically ischemic areas showed a significant increase in regional blood flow. No areas diminished in flow. There is no evidence from this study, however, that papaverine alters or influences the clinical course of patients with stroke.