Methods for assessment of the effect of drugs on cerebral blood flow in man

The cerebral circulation is not an unimportant vascular bed but it is difficult one to investigate. Methodological difficulties are the main reasons for the paucity of clinical pharmacology studies to date. Of the methods currently available those of the McHenry (1964) and Wyper et al. (1976) appear to be the most useful to the clinical investigator. Increasing use of multiple detectors even with inhalation techniques may give evidence of regional drug effects upon the cerebral circulation. Improvements in methodology in the last few years, particularly the development of atraumatic methods are likely to act as an important spur to research in this field.