Beneficial effect of vinpocetine on cerebral blood flow, measured with 123I-IMP SPECT, and clinical symptoms in patients with chronic cerebral infarction

Vinpocetine 15mg per day was administered to five patients suffering from chronic cerebral infarction. Changes in clinical symptoms and cerebral blood flow levels, before and after drug administration, were evaluated. 123I-IMP single photon emission computed tomography was used to measure cerebral blood flow before treatment and six to eight weeks after initiation of therapy. After six to eight weeks of treatment, improvement was observed in several clinical symptoms including headache, dizziness, and insomnia, in 40 to 80% of all patients. In the cerebral blood flow studies, significant improvements in blood flow were observed in nearly all brain regions analyzed, both ipsilateral and contralateral to the lesion. Blood pressure and laboratory data showed no significant change after treatment. Although the number of patients analyzed are few, our findings suggest that the administration of vinpocetine increases cerebral blood flow, which is probably clue to dilatation of cerebral arteries.