Therapeutic effect of sequential therapy with butylphthalein on acute cerebral infarction and increased middle cerebral artery blood flow in 48 patients

Haizhou QIAN; Linling YIN; Zhiqiang WU; Huan YANG

ABSTRACT

Objective:

To investigate the therapeutic effect of sequential therapy with butylphthalein on acute cerebral infarction and mild-to-moderate increases in middle cerebral artery blood flow in patients.

Methods:

The clinical data of 92 patients with acute cerebral infarction and mild-to-moderate increases in middle cerebral artery blood flow who received treatment at the Xiaogan Hospital Affiliated to Wuhan University of Science and Technology from January 2018 to October 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. These patients were divided into a study group and a control group using a random number table method. The control group was given an intravenous infusion of butylphthalein sodium chloride injection, while the study group took oral butylphthalein soft capsules after intravenous infusion of butylphthalein sodium chloride injection. The baseline data, hemodynamics, neurological function, and clinical outcomes were compared between the two groups. At 90 days after treatment, the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), the Activity of Daily Living Scale (ADL), and the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) were used to evaluate clinical outcomes. Transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD) examination was performed to evaluate hemodynamic changes.

Results:

A total of 92 patients completed all the observation indices as required, including 48 patients in the study group and 44 patients in the control group. There were no significant differences in demographics, vascular risk factors, laboratory results, NIHSS score, ADL score, or arterial hemodynamics of the diseased brain between the two groups (all P > 0.05). At 90 days after treatment, the NIHSS score in the study group was significantly lower than that in the control group [(4.00 ± 1.95) points vs. (4.91 ± 2.08) points; t =-2.16, P = 0.033]. The ADL score in the study group was significantly higher than that in the control group [(82.71 ± 9.56) points vs. (76.25 ± 11.47) points; t = 2.94, P = 0.004]. The good rate of outcomes in the study group was significantly higher than that in the control group [70.83% (34/48) vs. 50.00% (22/44); χ2 = 4.18, P = 0.041]. There were significant differences in the peak systolic velocity [(152.33 ± 9.58) cm/s vs. (157.41 ± 11.77) cm/s; t = 2.27, P = 0.025] and the mean velocity [(90.00 ± 8.30) cm/s vs. (94.45 ± 9.07) cm/s; t = -2.46, P = 0.016] of the middle cerebral artery between the study and control groups. The difference in pulsitility index between the two groups was not statistically significant [(0.97 ± 1.06) vs. (1.01 ± 1.21); t = 1.69, P = 0.093]. Compared with the poor outcome group, patients in the good outcome group had lower NIHSS and ADL scores after discharge (both P < 0.001), and the proportion of patients who received sequential therapy with butylphthalein in the good outcome group was higher [(60.70% (34/56) vs. 38.90% (14/36); χ2 = 4.18, P = 0.041].

Conclusion:

Sequential therapy with butylphthalein can reduce neurological deficits, promote neurological function recovery, improve the hemodynamics of diseased blood vessels, and greatly improve daily living activities in patients with acute cerebral infarction complicated by mild to moderate increases in middle cerebral artery blood flow.