[The effect of vincamine on cerebral blood flow as a function of application rate (author's transl)]

The effect of infusions of 14,15-dihydro-14beta-hydroxy-(3alpha, 16alpha)-eburamenine-14-carbonic acid methylester (vincamine; Vincopront) on cerebral blood flow (CBF) was investigated by the xenon clearance method. In 12 patients receiving 30 mg vincamine within 35--40 min no significant changes in hemispheric or regional CBF were observed. 14 patients received 40 mg vincamine within 35--40 min: in this group hemispheric CBF was significantly increased (p less than 0.01) when compared to the spontaneous changes observed in a control group. The increase was particularly prominent in poorly supplied brain regions. This effect was proved statistically by regression analysis. In a patient with astrocytoma the tumor-hyperperfusion was diminished by vincamine while the flow to the surrounding brain improved. The results indicate the dependency of the vincamine effect on the rate of application and thereby on the plasma concentration of the drug.