The papaverine test for blood flow potential of ileo-femoral arteries.

To establish drug and an optimal dose for a pharmacological test of the blood flow potential of an artery, the effect of intra-arterial injection of papaverine in varying doses was observed. The response to papaverine was then compared with that of other vasodilating drugs and with the physiological vasodilation of sympathectomy, exercise and postischemic hyperemia. In reconstructed atheromatous arteries, the injection of 40 mg papaverine HCl was found to induce a maximal local flow response, increasing blood flow in artery by approximately 250%. In normal arteries the response was higher. Tolazoline and isoxuprine induced a lower blood flow response and a higher fall in systemic blood pressure. The flow induced by papaverine was higher than flow after sympathectomy and light exercise and amounted to 88% of the maximum seen after 5 minutes ischemia. It is concluded that the blood flow induced by intra-arterial injection of 40 mg papaverine HCl represents a useful reference for flow potential of this artery.