Vasoactive effects of buflomedil assessed by fluorescein angiography

The vascular effects of buflomedil were studied by retinal fluorescein angiography carried out before (control) and after the intravenous infusion of buflomedil (250 mg in 15 min) in patients with different pathological conditions of retinal circulation. Sequential photograms, taken every 36 sec from the 10th sec after the start of the fluorescein injection, showed differences in circulation times between the two sequences in 9 (75%) out of 12 patients. Arterial phase and early venous phase differences were evident, with a mean delay after buflomedil of 3.24 +/- 2.35 sec and 3.22 +/- 2.58 sec, respectively. Significant differences were observed in the time to venous filling completion, with a mean delay of 6.99 +/- 5.19 sec after buflomedil. It is considered that the delay in the retinal arterial phase is related to the arm-retina circulation time, and the slowing down in venous filling is related to a lengthened circulation in the capillary bed.