Effect of parenteral or oral vinpocetine on the hemorheological parameters of patients with chronic cerebrovascular diseases.
BACKGROUND
Hemorheological factors play an important role in the pathomechanism of ischemic cerebrovascular disorders. Abnormal rheological conditions in patients with chronic cerebrovascular disease predispose for recurrent strokes. Vinpocetine (VP), a synthetic ethyl esther of apovincamine, has successfully been used in the treatment of cerebrovascular diseases, in part because of its favourable rheological effects.


METHODS
The study investigates the hemorheological changes in 40 patients in the chronic stage of ischemic cardiovascular disease after administration of vinpocetine. All patients received a high dose of intravenous VP in doses gradually increased to l mg/kg/day. In addition, 20 patients (mean age: 61+/-8 years) received 30 mg VP orally for 3 months. The other 20 patients (mean age: 59+/-6 years), who received placebo tablets, served as controls. Hemorheological parameters (hematocrit, plasma fibrinogen, whole blood viscosity, red blood cell aggregation and deformability) were evaluated at 1 and 3 months.


RESULTS
The high-dose parenteral VP significantly decreased red blood cell aggregation, plasma and whole blood viscosity (p < 0.05) compared to the initial values. In patients with additional oral treatment, plasma and whole blood viscosities were significantly lower compared to the placebo patients at 3 months (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results confirmed the beneficial rheological effects of high-dose parenteral VP (partially caused by hemodilution) observed previously, and also warrant its long-term oral admission to maintain the beneficial rheological changes.
Feher
Gergely
G
Department of Neurology, University of Pecs School of Medicine, H-7623 Pecs, Ret u. 2, Hungary. gergely.feher@aok.pte.hu
Koltai
Katalin
K
Kesmarky
Gabor
G
Horvath
Beata
B
Toth
Kalman
K
Komoly
Samuel
S
Szapary
Laszlo
L
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001809:Blood Viscosity / Q000187:drug effects; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000187:drug effects; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004903:Erythrocyte Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects; D004907:Erythrocyte Deformability / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000378:metabolism; D006400:Hematocrit; D018056:Hemorheology / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010974:Platelet Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D031053:Vinca; D014748:Vinca Alkaloids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D014748:Vinca Alkaloids; C013983:vinpocetine; D005340:Fibrinogen