THE EFFECT OF INTRAVENTRICULAR ALBUMIN IN EXPERIMENTAL BRAIN EDEMA

Therapy for vasogenic brain oedema (VEE) is still an unsolved problem. Experimental work with the aim of establishing an oncotherapeutic opt ion is presented. VBE is performed by focal freeze injury in rats. Usi ng a stereotactic head holder hypo- or hyperosmolar human serum albumi n is administered via the intraventricular route. The goal is to enhan ce the migration of oedema fluid with the aid of onco:ic pressures. Ea rly and late results are obtained for each group respectively four and twenty-four hours after the infliction of cold injury. The efficacy o f therapy is evaluated by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) osmolality, cerebr al water content, tissue specific gravity, and blood-brain barrier (BB B) permeability. Posttherapeutic values for CSF osmolality are obtaine d by cisterna magna puncture. Hyperosmolar CSF after performance of co ld injury (p < 0.05) is thought to be a result of fluid accumulation i n the: traumatized region partially from the intraventricular space. P osttherapeutic values after hyperosmolar albumin administration have r evealed iso-osmolar CSF, increase in specific gravity (p<0.001), and d ecrease in BBB permeability (p<0.05). These results are in accordance with withdrawal of oedema fluid into the ventricles which can be inter preted as a positive therapeutic effect. Late results in hyperosmolar group have disclosed a hypo-isc-osmolar CSF, persistent increase in sp ecific gravity, and no regression. These values have shown that hypero smolar albumin administration does not interfere with CSF circulation. Early results of hypoosmolar albumin application are discouraging. Th is preliminary work of a therapeutic trial on VEE may be a basis for f uture investigations with different dosages and time modalities.