title: Calcium antagonists, cerebral ischemia and vasospasm.
abstract: The past fifteen years has seen the classification of diverse substances into a group known as calcium antagonists (CAs). They have a common ability to reduce the transmembrane transport of extracellular calcium ions (CAe2+). This flow of calcium into vascular smooth muscle is ultimately associated with the development of tension and vasoconstriction. Some CAs appear to have a predilection for cerebral as opposed to systemic arteries and so may function as specific cerebral arterial vasodilators. It has been proposed that they might be useful in certain types of cerebral ischemia such as that due to arterial occlusion or prolonged vasoconstriction. Animal experiments and initial clinical trials give grounds for cautious optimism that CAs may become as useful in neurology as they have recently become in cardiology.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002415:Cats; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000187:drug effects; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000187:drug effects; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004285:Dogs; D006801:Humans; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000601:surgery; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000494:pharmacology; D010215:Papio; D051381:Rats; D013345:Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D009543:Nifedipine