digitoxin and Intracranial-Arteriosclerosis

48 patients with cerebral arteriosclerosis were found to have a manifest release of adenylate kinase (AK) into cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). This release was most probably due to an increased leak in the brain cells subsequent to a lowered adenylate charge potential followed by a diminished electrochemical potential in these cells suffering from disturbed oxygen supply. A further increase of AK release into CSF was noted for the 22 patients receiving cardiac glycosides compared to the 26 patients not treated with these drugs. The mean AK value of the former group was 0.119 +/- 0.028 U/l compared to that of the latter group, being 0.089 +/- 0.025 U/l, and this difference was significant (p less than 0.001). The effect of cardiac glycosides is most probably explained by an additional lowering of the membrane electrochemical potential in brain cells of these patients due to the direct action of cardiac glycosides on the Na+- and K+-dependent ATPase system in these cells, resulting in an increased leak in the plasma membrane.

Topics: Adenylate Kinase; Aged; Blood Cell Count; Blood-Brain Barrier; Cerebrospinal Fluid; Digitoxin; Digoxin; Female; Humans; Intracranial Arteriosclerosis; Male; Phosphotransferases

Topics: Aged; Chlormethiazole; Dementia; Digitoxin; Heart Diseases; Histamine H1 Antagonists; Humans; Intracranial Arteriosclerosis; Piperazines

Topics: Blood Flow Velocity; Brain; Carbon Dioxide; Cerebral Arteries; Cerebrovascular Circulation; Digitalis; Humans; Hyperthyroidism; Hypotension; Intracranial Arteriosclerosis; Norepinephrine; Oxygen Consumption; Plants, Medicinal; Plants, Toxic; Regional Blood Flow; Vasodilator Agents