Acetazolamide effects on cerebral blood flow in acute reversible ischemia.

Cerebral blood flow (CBF) was studied in 4 patients with acute reversible ischemia (RIND). To test the ischemic areas' vasoreactivity, CBF was measured by the Xenon-133 inhalation method, before and after acetazolamide injected intravenously. At the baseline CBF study, 3 patients presented hypoperfused areas while one patient had increased CBF over the affected hemisphere. The acetazolamide test, showed in this latter case a "steal phenomenon" while in the other 3 an increase of perfusion was evidenced, in areas of normal flow, as well as in areas with reduced flow. These results suggest that in the acute phase of patients with RIND, when brain regions of hypoperfusion and neurological signs are still present, the vasomotor response may be preserved.