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The Effect of High Doses of Dexamethasone on Cerebral Blood Flow in Patients with Cerebral Tumors

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Treatment of Cerebral Edema

Abstract

Accumulation of edematous fluid due to cerebral tumors leads to increase of intracranial pressure (ICP) with subsequent reduction of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF). The value of prolonged administration of steroids to patients suffering from tumors of the brain is well known since the early reports of Ingraham et al. [4] and Tytus et al. [10]. Studies on the influence of various doses of steroids on ICP in patients with supratentorial tumors [5] and tumors of the posterior fossa [2] have indicated that ICP can be adequately lowered by dexamethasone. Own experience has indicated that cerebrospinal fluid pressure in patients suffering from supratentorial malignant brain tumors decreases more slowly than the clinical condition improves [1]. Therefore factors other than ICP alone must be influenced by the administration of dexamethasone. Since rCBF is not triggered by intracranial pressure alone we have studied this particular factor. This preliminary report presents observations on the effect of high doses of dexamethasone on rCBF in patients suffering from malignant brain tumors and proven edema.

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References

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© 1982 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Buttinger, C., Hartmann, A., von Kummer, R., Menzel, J. (1982). The Effect of High Doses of Dexamethasone on Cerebral Blood Flow in Patients with Cerebral Tumors. In: Hartmann, A., Brock, M. (eds) Treatment of Cerebral Edema. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-68707-5_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-68707-5_13

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-11751-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-68707-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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