The curative effect of cinepazide maleate and nimodipine in the treatment of cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage

Abstract

The curative effect of cinepazide maleate (320 mg/d) and nimodipine (30 mg/d) on the cerebral vasospasm caused by post-traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage was compared. Transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD) was used to examine the changes of hemodynamics of middle cerebral artery (MCA) before and after treatment. On the 3rd day after treatment the blood flow velocity of MCA in both groups decreased obviously, and the difference between that in pre- and post-treatment was statistically significant (cinepazide maleate group t = 4.364, P = 0.000; nimodipine group t = 7.486, P = 0.000), but there was no statistically significant difference between 2 groups (P = 0.124). On the 7th day, the blood flow velocity of 2 groups continously declined (cinepazide maleate group t = 5.793, P = 0.000; nimodipine group t = 10.364, P = 0.000), but there was no significant difference between 2 groups (P = 0.364). No statistically significant difference on total effective rate and adverse drug reaction rate was seen between 2 groups (P > 0.05). It was suggested that cinepazide maleate can replace nimodipine in the treatment for cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage.