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Effects of glycerol infusion on cerebral blood flow and oxygen metabolism in patients with intracranial tumors

Conference · · J. Nucl. Med.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6856217

Glycerol is one of the most popular drugs frequently used to improve brain edema, which is associated with intracranial tumors. To evaluate the effects of glycerol infusion, cerebral blood flow (CBF) and oxygen metabolism were studied in 8 patients with positron emission computed tomography (PET) before and after glycerol infusion. Regional CBF, oxygen utilization (CMRO2), oxygen extraction fraction (OEF) and cerebral blood volume (CBV) were measured with continuous inhalation of 0-15 labeled carbon dioxide and oxygen, and bolus inhalation of 0-15 labeled carbon monoxide. Following the control measurements, 250 to 300 ml of 10% glycerol was infused intravenously within 20 min, and the repeat measurements were performed. In the control study, 6/8 cases showed decreased CBF and CMRO2 in the cerebral cortices, while the other two had normal CMRO2 with high OEF. After glycerol infusion, an increase in CBF was observed in all cases, whereas CMRO2 increased only in the cases with low CMRO2 at the control state, and didn't change in the two cases with normal CMRO2, in which OEF decreased to the normal level. These results indicated the important role of auto-regulation mechanism for oxygen metabolism to maintain neuronal activities against the changes in CBF. However, CMRO2 also decreased in the cases with severely diminished CBF, and glycerol improved both CBF and CMRO2 in these cases.

Research Organization:
Kyoto Univ. School of Medicine, Kyoto
OSTI ID:
6856217
Report Number(s):
CONF-850611-
Journal Information:
J. Nucl. Med.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Nucl. Med.; (United States) Vol. 26:5; ISSN JNMEA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English