DELAYED PROGRESSION OF CYTOTOXIC EDEMA IN FOCAL CEREBRAL-ISCHEMIA AFTER TREATMENT WITH A TORASEMIDE DERIVATIVE - A DIFFUSION-WEIGHTED MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING STUDY

Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to assess the effect of an astrocytic Na(+)2Cl(-)K(+) cotransporter inhibitor, a novel torasemide derivative, on the time course and spatial evolutio n of a focal cerebral ischemia in the rat. The drug (1 mg/kg, i.p.) wa s injected 30 min before middle cerebral artery occlusion and diffusio n-weighted images were acquired at various times thereafter. The resul ts showed that the drug reduced the size of the hyperintensity during the first hours, but did not affect the time constant of growth or the final size. The temporary reduction of the cytotoxic oedema induced b y the torasemide derivative, demonstrates an antioedematous activity.