Abstract
Steroids such as dexamethasone are used routinely against brain edema in patients with cerebral tumors. With sufficiently high doses the clinical effect starts to become recognizable within 24 hours. However, intracranial pressure recordings indicate that the raised cerebrospinal fluid pressure falls later (1, 2, 4), whereas so-called plateau waves diminish in number and intensity within 12–18 hours (Fig. 1). Therefore mechanisms other than ICP-reduction alone are probably involved in the beneficial action of steroids in patients with brain edema. Since regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) is an important factor in brain function and since it is influenced not only by intracranial pressure but also by other factors such as metabolism and nerve function, the study of rCBF during dexamethasone therapy might give some clue to its action.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Alberti, E., Hartmann, A., Schütz, H.-J., Schreckenberger, F.: The effect of large doses of dexamethasone on the cerebrospinal fluid pressure in patients with supratentorial tumors. J. Neurol. 217, 173–181 (1978)
Brock, M., Zillig, C., Wiegand, H., Zywietz, C., Mock, P.: The effect of dexamethasone on ICI in cases of posterior fossa tumors. In: ICP III. Beks, J.W.F. Bosch, D.A., Brock, M. (eds.), pp. 236–243. Berlin, Heidelberg, New York: Springer 1976
Hartmann, A., v. Kummer, R.: Die atraumatische Messung der regionalen Gehirndurchblutung: Methodik und Zuverlässigkeitsprüfung. Fortschr. Neurol. Psychiat. (in press, 1982)
Kullberg, G.: Clinical studies on the effect of corticosteroids on the ventricular pressure. In: Steroids and Brain Edema. Reulen, H., Schürmann, K. (eds.), pp. 253–258. Berlin, Heidelberg, New York: Springer 1972
Reulen, H.J., Hadjidimos, A., Schürmann, K.: The effect of dexameth-asone on water and electrolyte content and on rCBF in perifocal brain edema in man. In: Steroids and Brain Edema. Reulen, H.J., Schürmann, K. (eds.), pp. 239–252. Berlin, Heidelberg, New York: Springer 1972
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1983 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this paper
Cite this paper
Hartmann, A., v. Kummer, R., Menzel, J., Buttinger, C. (1983). Effect of Dexamethasone on Regional Cerebral Blood Flow in Patients with Cerebral Tumors and Brain Edema. In: Jensen, HP., Brock, M., Klinger, M. (eds) Acute Non-Traumatic Intracranial Bleedings. Posterior Fossa Tumors in Infancy. Advances in Neurosurgery, vol 11. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-05589-2_47
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-05589-2_47
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-12538-9
Online ISBN: 978-3-662-05589-2
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive