Calcium antagonists in an animal model of vertebrobasilar insufficiency

Vertigo as a symptom of vertebrobasilar insufficiency (VBI) is a serious clinical problem in elderly patients. Recent epidemiologic studies have shown that patients with VBI run the same risk of developing complete cerebral infarction as do patients with TIAs. In order to study the efficacy of calcium antagonists in vertebrobasilar insufficiency, an animal model of VBI was developed by occluding one vertebral artery with a balloon catheter. Judging by the reversal of the nystagmic pattern of petite ecriture, the calcium antagonists flunarizine and nimodipine are effective drugs in this animal model of VBI.