title: Dexamethasone decreases neurological sequelae and caspase activity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the use of dexamethasone in a model of meningitis-induced brain injury. Changes in neurobehavioral performance were the primary outcome variables. Changes in caspase activation and markers of neuronal injury were the secondary outcome variables.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized, prospective animal study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University research laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male Wistar rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Animals underwent a basilar cistern injection of either placebo or a suspension of Group B Streptococcus. Sixteen hours after inoculation, animals were randomized and received either dexamethasone or placebo in addition to antibiotics. Neurobehavioral performance and biological markers of brain injury were assessed at 3 days and 9 days after randomization. In a second experiment, caspase 1 and 3 were evaluated at 6 h, 24 h, and 72 h after dexamethasone administration.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Neurobehavioral performance at 3 days and 9 days was significantly improved in the dexamethasone group. Serum C-tau and cerebral edema were decreased after 3 days of dexamethasone treatment. Dexamethasone decreased Caspase 3 activation in meningitic animals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings demonstrate that dexamethasone decreases acute brain injury in a rat model of bacterial meningitis as measured by preservation of neurobehavioral performance.
authors.affiliation: Division of Critical Care Medicine, The Floating Hospital for Children, 750 Washington Street, NEMC#093, Boston, MA 02111, USA. JIrazuzta@Tufts-NEMC.org
authors.forename: Jose
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Irazuzta
authors.forename: Robert K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Pretzlaff
authors.forename: Gabrielle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: DeCourten-Myers
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zemlan
authors.forename: Basilia
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zingarelli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000382:microbiology; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology*; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000201:enzymology*; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D003907:Dexamethasone; D020169:Caspases