A new form of management of stroke.

The effects of nimodipine administration intravenously and orally are compared in a double-blind study of 143 patients with stroke, who were admitted to the hospital within 6 h after the onset of symptoms. In both the infarct group and the hemorrhagic stroke group, there was significant improvement as evaluated by the Matthew Scale and Barthel Index, especially in the nimodipine infusion group. For the group receiving nimodipine orally, the results were less evident. The data suggest that nimodipine should be given as an infusion as early as possible.