In a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled
study in 30 patients with acute ischemic stroke,
the effect of the adenosine uptake blocker propentofylline
on regional brain glucose metabolism (rCMRg1u) was investigated
using repeated positron emission tomography
(PET) with 2- [18F]fluoro-2-deoxY-D-glucose (FDG).
Treatment was initiated within 48 h after onset of symptoms.
The clinical course was followed for 3 months. In
the propentofylline group, after 14 days rCMRgiu was increased
in the infarct by 37.3% and was practically unchanged
in other brain regions, whereas in the control
group glucose metabolism had decreased in all regions