title: The role of intravenous immunoglobulin in the treatment of cerebral vasospasm induced by subarachnoid haemorrhage: an experimental study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine whether intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) prevents cerebral vasospasm in rabbits with induced subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH). The effect of IVIG on apoptosis in the endothelial cells of the basilar artery was also evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen New Zealand white rabbits were allocated randomly into three groups. SAH was induced by injecting autologous blood into the cisterna magna. Group 1, the control group, was subjected to sham surgery (no induction of SAH). Group 2 had SAH alone and Group 3 had SAH plus IVIG. Three days after treatment, the animals were sacrificed. The basilar artery tissues were analysed histologically and the malondialdehyde levels in the brain stem tissues were evaluated biochemically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Differences in the histopathological luminal areas and full wall thicknesses in the SAH plus IVIG group and the SAH group were statically insignificant (p > 0.005). The malondialdehyde level was also found to be lower in the IVIG group than in the SAH group, although this difference was not significant (p > 0.005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the IVIG treatment was revealed to have no vasodilator effect on the SAH-induced spastic basilar artery, it was shown to have a beneficial effect on the apoptosis of endothelial cells, probably via anti-inflammatory mechanisms.
authors: Neurosurgery Department, Selcuk University, Meram Faculty of Medicine, Konya, 42080 Turkey. livacengiz@yahoo.com
authors: Sahika Liva
authors: SL
authors: Cengiz
authors: Mehmet Fatih
authors: MF
authors: Erdi
authors: Mustafa Cihat
authors: MC
authors: Avunduk
authors: Murat
authors: M
authors: Tosun
authors: Mehmet Erkan
authors: ME
authors: Ustün
authors: Recep
authors: R
authors: Gökce
authors: Alper
authors: A
authors: Yosunkaya
authors: Alper
authors: A
authors: Baysefer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D001488:Basilar Artery / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism*; D011817:Rabbits; D013345:Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020301:Vasospasm, Intracranial / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D008315:Malondialdehyde