Effects of acute and chronic treatment with (-)eburnamonine on the tissue supply of oxygen.

Recent research has demonstrated the major role of oxygen in the maintenance of normal cerebral function in the elderly and considerable importance has been attributed to the action of intra-erythrocytic 2-3 diphosphoglycerate (2-3 DPG) in favouring the availability of oxygen to the tissues. This property is reportedly helped or potentiated by the pharmacological action of some eumetabolic vasoregulator drugs. According to numerous clinical trials, (-)eburnamonine possesses this property. A two-part study was carried out in elderly volunteers: a double-blind randomized trial on 20 patients treated acutely (10 with an infusion of 100 mg (-)eburnamonine vs 10 controls) and a within-patients crossover trial on 10 patients treated chronically by the oral route. The results showed a significant increase in the 2-3 DPG values and a beneficial modification of P50 after (-)eburnamonine, probably dependent both on the dose and mode of administration. The effect of the drug was much more marked but more fleeting after acute administration and less intense but more lasting after chronic administration. The latter mode of treatment is of interest in view of the therapeutic effects on several symptoms of senile chronic cerebral insufficiency.