title: Intracranial drug delivery for subarachnoid hemorrhage.
abstract: Tice and colleagues pioneered site-specific, sustained-release drug delivery to the brain almost 30 years ago. Currently there is one drug approved for use in this manner. Clinical trials in subarachnoid hemorrhage have led to approval of nimodipine for oral and intravenous use, but other drugs, such as clazosentan, hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) and magnesium, have not shown consistent clinical efficacy. We propose that intracranial delivery of drugs such as nimodipine, formulated in sustained-release preparations, are good candidates for improving outcome after subarachnoid hemorrhage because they can be administered to patients that are already undergoing surgery and who have a self-limited condition from which full recovery is possible.
authors: Division of Neurosurgery, St. Michael's Hospital, Labatt Family Centre of Excellence in Brain Injury & Trauma Research, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. macdonaldlo@smh.ca
authors: Robert Loch
authors: RL
authors: Macdonald
authors: Ming
authors: M
authors: Leung
authors: Tom
authors: T
authors: Tice
mesh_terms: D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000517:prevention & control; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000517:prevention & control; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D006801:Humans; D009553:Nimodipine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011859:Radiography; D013345:Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D020301:Vasospasm, Intracranial / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
chemical_list: D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D009553:Nimodipine