title: Oral glycerol for the treatment of traumatic intracranial hypertension.
abstract: Hyperosmolar agents are a primary therapeutic modality employed in the treatment of traumatic intracranial hypertension. Profound hyperosmolarity accompanied by systemic dehydration is a potentially serious problem when these drugs are used repeatedly for control of intracranial pressure. Because glycerol, a water-soluble alcohol, is metabolized in the liver, its dehydrating capacity may be reduced in comparison to other agents. A series of 15 patients were treated with oral glycerol (0.5 to 1.0 gm/kg) with only minor changes in serum electrolytes, glucose, and urea nitrogen. Serum osmolarity rose from a baseline of 305 mOsm/liter to 355 mOsm/liter after 10 days of therapy. Glycerol was found to be effective and safe when employed in this protocol and proved to be a valuable adjunct to the standard methods available for control of intracranial hypertension.
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005990:Glycerol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007427:Intracranial Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D011559:Pseudotumor Cerebri / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D004573:Electrolytes; D005990:Glycerol