Effect of flunarizine on regional cerebral blood flow in common and complicated migraine. Pilot study.

Alterations of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) are at least epiphenomena of common and complicated migraine, but may lead to serious clinical complications. Since flunarizine seems to be effective in migraine prevention it may exert a beneficial influence on rCBF in migraine as well. rCBF was assessed using the 133Xe inhalation method in 5 patients with common and 8 patients with complicated migraine. Measurements were done interictally prior and after therapy with 15 mg flunarizine p.o. daily over a period of 4 weeks. Major abnormalities of grey matter flow were observed even interictally. Significant improvement of rCBF in initially hypoemic regions may be attributed to flunarizine therapy. These preliminary data suggest that calcium entry blockers may prevent the ischemic complications of migraine.