Calcium modulation and clinical effect. Profile of cyclandelate.

Since its original development as a vasodilator, cyclandelate has been shown to possess a pharmacological profile which reflects its primary mechanism of action-calcium modulation. Thus, the ability of the drug to improve the rheological properties of blood by maintaining red blood cell deformability and inhibiting platelet aggregation may be explained by its effects on the influx of extracellular calcium. Since elevated intracellular calcium concentrations are known to contribute to pathological changes in conditions of local cerebral ischaemia, the clinical implications for the use of cyclandelate in the treatment of such diseases are clear.