Brain injury in bacterial meningitis: therapeutic implications.

Abstract

Recent in-vitro studies have improved our understanding of how bacteria interact with cerebral endothelial cells and cross the blood-brain barrier. Several animal studies using rat and rabbit models of bacterial meningitis have revealed mediators of inflammation that are believed to play a key role in secondary brain damage, including reactive oxygen species, nitric oxide, and excitatory amino acids. Treatment with free-radical scavengers, nitric oxide synthase inhibitors, excitatory amino acid antagonists, as well as the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 was beneficial in experimental bacterial meningitis. Apart from dexamethasone these agents hold major promise for the adjunctive therapy of bacterial meningitis in clinical practice.

• Authors: H W Pfister, W M Scheld
• Journal: Current opinion in neurology (Curr Opin Neurol) Vol. 10 Issue 3 Pg. 254-9 (Jun 1997) ISSN: 1350-7540 [Print] England
• PMID: 9229135 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Topics

• Animals
• Brain (metabolism, microbiology, physiopathology)
• Humans
• Meningitis, Bacterial (metabolism, physiopathology, therapy)