The cerebral hemodynamic response to the xanthine compound, parephyllin (diethyl-aminoethyl theophylline hydrochloride)

Abstract

A minophylline has been observed to decrease cerebral blood flow in normotensive control subjects, 1 patients with heart failure, 2 and patients with hypertension associated with severe headache. 3 At least in the latter group of patients, the cerebrospinal fluid pressure decrease concurrently with the reduction in cerebral blood flow. Recently a xanthine compound (Parephyllin) (Soluphylline or R-3588) ∗ ∗ Supplied through the courtesy of Riker Laboratories, Inc. has been introduced which has gained widespread use in France 4,5 under the trade name Soluphylline. It produces less gastric irritation than aminophylline and, therefore, it can be given in large doses orally. In addition, it is not irritating by the intramuscular route of administration. Because of these qualities, it seemed worthwhile to study the pharmacodynamics of this drug and to compare it with aminophylline. The current study is concerned with an evaluation of the cerebrovascular hemodynamic response to this compound (Parephyllin).