Effect of pyritinol-GCl on blood flow and oxidative metabolism of the brain in patients with dementia.

In order to test whether and in what way pyritinon-HCl affects cerebral blood flow and oxidative metabolism in patients with organic brain disorders, the following parameters were measured in a group of 87 patients: cerebral blood flow using the Kety and Schmidt method, cerebral consumption of oxygen and glucose, and also CO2 and lactate ouptut. 45 out of the 87 patients were given pyritinol in a dose of 900 or 1000 mg/day, 42 out of 87 patients formed a control group and were given 500 mgof 5% laevulose i.v. daily for the average duration of the study of approximately 3 weeks. The results can be summarised as follows: 1. Cerebral blood flow and oxidative metabolism are changed in patients with organic brain disorders in different ways voth as regards quality and quanitity. Findings from earlier investigations could thus be confirmed. 2. When laevulose only was used, the parameters measured did not alter on average. In addition to deteriorations in the findings, spontaneous improvements or normalisationof previously disturbed cerebral blood flow and cerebral metabolism values were also abserved. 3. Pyritinol-HCl usually improved previously disturbed cerebral glucose metabolism significantly. An effect on disturbed cerebral blood flow or pathologically changed cerebral oxygen consumption was not found.