Glucocorticoid therapy in neurologic critical care

Joao A. Gomes, Robert D. Stevens, John J. Lewin, Marek A. Mirski, Anish Bhardwaj

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

96 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: The pivotal role of inflammation and edema across the spectrum of central nervous system injury has driven extensive investigation into the therapeutic potential of glucocorticoids. Objective: To review the experimental and clinical data relating to the efficacy and adverse effects of glucocorticoids in conditions encountered in critical neurologic and neurosurgical illness. Data Source: Search of MEDLINE and Cochrane databases, manual review of article bibliographies. Data Synthesis and Conclusions: The efficacy of glucocorticoids is well established in ameliorating edema associated with brain tumors and in improving outcome in subsets of patients with bacterial meningitis. Despite frequently encouraging experimental results, clinical trials of glucocorticoids in ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, and traumatic brain injury have not shown a definite therapeutic effect. The evidence supporting glucocorticoid therapy for spinal cord injury is controversial; however methylprednisolone continues to be widely employed in this setting.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1214-1224
Number of pages11
JournalCritical care medicine
Volume33
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2005
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Brain injury
  • Glucocorticoids
  • Inflammation
  • Neurologic critical care

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine

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