title: Effect of nimodipine on blood pressure in acute ischemic stroke in humans.
abstract: Nimodipine is currently under investigation for the treatment of acute stroke. Although relatively specific for the cerebrovasculature, acute reductions in blood pressure after a dose may adversely affect neurologic outcome. We studied 29 consecutive acute ischemic stroke patients treated with placebo (n = 9) or either 120 (n = 10) or 240 (n = 10) mg/day of nimodipine. Blood pressure was recorded before and 30 and 60 minutes after a dose for the first 8 days. Ten neurologic physicians were asked to predict the treatment group (placebo or drug) of randomly selected patients based on blood pressure results. Only those patients on 240 mg/day of nimodipine had significant decreases in blood pressure after a dose (p less than 0.001); however, these were minimal (average 10 mm Hg systolic). Only 26 of 48 treatment predictions (54%) were correct. At the studied doses, nimodipine has a minimal effect on blood pressure in the acute stroke period.
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan.
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Fagan
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Gengo
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bates
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Levine
authors.forename: W R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Kinkel
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009553:Nimodipine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D009553:Nimodipine