Effect of buflomedil on cell metabolism in ischemic muscle

The effect of Buflomedil on cell metabolism in ischemic muscle was studied in pigs. Six pigs received Buflomedil 6 mg per kg intravenously 30 minutes prior to induction of total leg ischemia, whereas 6 control animals were not premedicated. Arterial and venous blood samples and muscle specimens from the ischemic leg were collected prior to ischemia, after 5 hours of ischemia, and after 10 minutes and 30 minutes of reperfusion of the leg, and analysed for metabolic parameters. Similar decreases in local venous pH and PO2 indicated comparable and severe leg ischemia in both groups. Similar increases in venous and arterial concentrations of potassium and creatine kinase indicated a comparable degree of cell damage in the two groups. The ischemic muscle specimens in the Buflomedil group contained significantly higher phosphocreatine (PC) levels (p less than 0.01) and significantly lower lactate levels (p less than 0.01) than did the control group, whereas ATP levels were comparable in the two groups. We conclude that Buflomedil reduces PC-conversion, glucolytic activity and energy demands of the ischemic cell.