ADMINISTRATION OF METHYLPREDNISOLONE ACETATE INTO THE SUBDURAL CAVITYIN AN INFANT WITH SUBDURAL FLUID COLLECTION - PAF IS A GOOD INDICATOROF THE EFFICACY OF THE TREATMENT

We report on the successful treatment of a case of infantile subdural fluid collection after cardiac surgery by administration. of methylpre dnisolone acetate into the subdural cavity. The protein content in sub dural fluid did not change even after administration of this steroid a nd was not a good indicator of the efficacy of treatment; however, the content of platelet-activating factor (PAF), an inflammatory mediator , in the fluid removed from the subdural cavity decreased rapidly afte r administration of the steroid. Subdural fluid collection subsequentl y decreased and mental retardation was improved. Our findings suggest that PAF content is a good indicator of the severity of infantile subd ural fluid collection.