Effect of selective inhibitor of thromboxane A2 synthetase on cerebral vasospasm after early surgery

The authors report the results of inhibition of thromboxane A2 synthetase in 49 consecutive patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). These unselected Grade I to IV patients all had a ruptured aneurysm of the anterior circle of Willis, and were operated on within 72 hours after SAH. Twenty-seven patients were treated postoperatively by an intravenous infusion of sodium (E)-3- [4-(3-pyridylmethyl)-phenyl] -2- propenoate (OKY-1581), a selective inhibitor of thromboxane A2 synthetase, at 5 micrograms/kg/min for 10 to 14 days, and the remaining 22 patients did not receive this drug. Both groups of patients had similar age distribution and preoperative neurological conditions. A suggestive but statistically insignificant improvement was found in postoperative angiographic vasospasm, ischemic symptoms, and overall outcome in the group receiving OKY-1581. The incidence of low-density areas on the postoperative computerized tomography scans was significantly decreased in patients treated with OKY-1581 infusion.