Acute dimethyl sulfoxide therapy in experimental brain edema: part 2. Effect of dose and concentration on intracranial pressure, blood pressure, and central venous pressure.

Albino rabbits with experimental brain edema produced by a combined cryogenic and metabolic 6-aminonicotinamide lesion were administered intravenous dimethyl sulfoxide in varying concentrations and doses in the following manner: Subgroup A (concentration response) received a 1.0-g/kg bolus as a 10%, 20%, 30%, or 40% solution. Subgroup B (dose response) received as a 20% solution a 1.0-g/kg bolus, 1.5-g/kg bolus, or 2.0-g/kg infusion. Simultaneous recording of intracranial pressure (ICP), systolic arterial pressure (SAP), and central venous pressure and electroencephalography were performed while the animals were being mechanically ventilated at a constant PaCO2 (38 to 42 torr). There was significant lowering of ICP when compared to pretreatment values in Subgroup A in the 10% subset at 30 minutes (p less than 0.05) and in the 20% subset at 5 (p less than 0.05) and 30 (p less than 0.05) minutes. ICP was not significantly decreased in the 30% and 40% subsets. All animals of Subgroup B displayed significant reductions of ICP when compared to their pretreatment values. There was no significant change in SAP in either subgroup.