Influence of Nimodipine on Pulmonary Function

Abstract

The calcium antagonist nimodipine has been in use for 8 years in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage to prevent ischemic neurological deficits caused by cerebral vasospasm. Many studies have shown a benefit from preventive nimodipine treatment. Nimodipine has proved to be a predominantly cerebroarterial dilating drug that can be administered over a long period and in sufficiently high doses without severe arterial hypotension. Until now, nothing is known about a possible influence of nimodipine on pulmonary function, although clinical observations indicate that continuous administration of nimodipine may cause pulmonary venous congestion and, finally, development of pulmonary edema. A retrospective study was performed to verify our observations by comparing the initial chest X-ray of patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage with the subsequent chest X-rays under continuous administration of nimodipine.