title: Mannitol treatment in experimental Haemophilus influenzae type b meningitis.
abstract: A study was undertaken to evaluate hypertonic mannitol treatment in experimental lapin Haemophilus influenzae type b meningitis and to compare these results with those in normal rabbits. Increased intracranial pressure, brain water content, and concentrations of lactate and hypoxanthine in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were measured as a reflection of altered cerebral perfusion and hypoxia and potential brain injury associated with meningitis. A single dose of mannitol reduced transiently the CSF pressure of uninfected rabbits from 2.15 +/- 0.20 to 1.34 +/- 0.10 mm Hg (maximum reduction 34.9 +/- 8.4%; p less than 0.005). The time to the lowest pressure was 38.7 +/- 2.7 min after initiation of the infusion and the time to return of CSF pressure to initial values was 76.7 +/- 5.6 min. In infected mannitol-treated animals the CSF pressure was reduced from 4.78 +/- 0.53 to 2.61 +/- 0.55 mm Hg (maximum reduction 42.0 +/- 7.7%; p less than 0.005). Time to maximum pressure decrease was 44.0 +/- 5.6 min. CSF pressure returned to the initial level after 178.5 +/- 25.2 min. Four h after initiation of mannitol infusion the mean brain water content in infected mannitol-treated animals was 412 +/- 4 g H2O/100 g dry weight and in infected untreated animals it was 415 +/- 3 g H2O/100 g dry weight (p greater than 0.05). CSF lactate and hypoxanthine concentrations were significantly increased during the 20 h of meningeal inflammation (p less than 0.005).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001834:Body Water / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae; D006982:Hypertonic Solutions; D019271:Hypoxanthine; D007042:Hypoxanthines / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007427:Intracranial Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D007773:Lactates / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D019344:Lactic Acid; D008297:Male; D008353:Mannitol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008583:Meningitis, Haemophilus / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D006982:Hypertonic Solutions; D007042:Hypoxanthines; D007773:Lactates; D019271:Hypoxanthine; D019344:Lactic Acid; D008353:Mannitol