Effect of nicardipine on somatosensory evoked potentials in patients with acute cerebral infarction.
We evaluated the effect of nicardipine, a calcium channel blocker, on somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP) in 26 patients with acute cerebral infarction. Post treatment, 58% (15/26) of the N20 and P25 latencies were prolonged in the affected hemispheres; 8% (2/26) were shortened; and 35% (9/26) did not change. The mean N20 and P25 latencies were significantly prolonged two hours post treatment in the affected hemisphere (N20, P less than 0.01, P25 P less than 0.01). Nicardipine (Ni) had no effect on SEP components in the intact hemispheres. Seventy five per cent of the 12 patients with hypertension had a decrease in blood pressure (BP) after taking nicardipine, but there were no undesirable side effects or worsening of neurological signs. Our study demonstrates that nicardipine prolongs the latencies of short-latency components of SEP in the affected hemisphere after acute ischaemic stroke and also decreases BP. These observations suggest that nicardipine therapy might impair neuronal function in the ischaemic zone.
Yao
L P
LP
Department of Neurology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Medical University, People's Republic of China.
Ding
D Y
DY
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects; D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D009529:Nicardipine / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D009529:Nicardipine