The control of brain edema is still one of the major problems in surgical and conservative treatment of various cerebral lesions. Many attempts have been made to develop methods for reducing the high mortality associated with brain edema. Mter many years of using hypertonic solutions it can be stated that this type of therapy has not yielded satisfactory results. During recent years increasing evidence has been accumulated on the efficacy of steroids on brain edema. Steroids were reported to result in rapid relief of signs and symptoms of increased intracranial pressure and neurological dysfunction accompanying cerebral edema. It was the aim of this workshop to evaluate the effect of corticosteroids on brain edema as an advance in therapy. It was hoped that this could be achieved by a multi disciplinary approach. Though, the volume contains the contributions of various experts - internists, neurochemists, neurologists, neuropathologists, neurosurgeons, pharmacologists, physiologists - who have added considerable experimental and clin ical evidence on the action of steroids on brain edema. New pathophysiological aspects regarding the mechanisms underlying the formation and resolution of brain The effectiveness of corticosteroid therapy in various forms edema are presented. of clinical and experimental brain edema, e. g. accompanying brain tumors, head injury, spinal cord injury, cerebrovascular lesions, etc. as well as dosage and duration of treatment are critically discussed.

I. Experimental Aspects of Brain Edema and Therapeutic Approach

Pathophysiological Aspects of Brain Edema
Functional Aspects of Abnormal Protein Passage Across the Blood-Brain Barrier
The Effects of Hypertonic Urea on the Blood-Brain Barrier and on the Glucose Transport in the Brain
Molecular Aspects of Membrane Structure in Cerebral Edema
Some Aspects of the Pharmacology of Adrenal Steroids and the Central Nervous System
II. Effects of Steroids on Experimental Brain Edema
Effects of Steroids on Cold Injury Edema
The Effects of Glucosteroids upon Experimental Brain Edema
The Influence of Dexamethasone on Water Content, Electrolytes, Blood-Brain Barrier and Glucose Metabolism in Cold Injury Edema
Multiple Therapeutic Approaches in the Treatment of Brain Edema Induced by a Standard Cold Lesion
Steroid-Induced Inhibition of Growth in Glial Tumors: a Kinetic Analysis
Effects of Steroids on Edema Associated with Injury of the Spinal Cord
Effect of Dexamethasone on Triethyl Tin Induced Brain Edema and the Early Edema in Cerebral Ischemia
Effects of Ischemia on Water and Electrolyte Content of Cerebral Tissues
Effect of Dexamethasone on the Early Edema Following Occlusion of the Middle Cerebral Artery in Cats
III. Mechanisms of Action of Steroids on Brain Edema
Physiology and Pathophysiology of Protein Permeability in the Central Nervous System
Studies on the Mechanisms of Action of Steroids in Traumatized Brain
Evidence Regarding the Action of Steroids in Injured Spinal Cord
The Role of Necrosis and Inflammation in the Response of Cerebral Edema to Steroids
Effect of Antioxidants on Experimental Cold-Induced Cerebral Edema
Steroids and the Blood-Brain Barrier with Special Reference to Astrocytic Cells
Adrenal Cortical Response toNeurosurgical Problems, Noting the Effects of Exogenous Steroids
Physiological and Biochemical Findings in the Central Nervous System of Adrenalectomized Rats and Mice
The Effect of Aldosterone and an Aldosterone-Antagonist on the Metabolism of Perifocal Brain Edema in Man
IV. Effects of Steroids on Brain Edema in Man
The Effects of Steroids on Brain Edema in Man
The Clinical Effects of a Synthetic Gluco-Corticoid used for Brain Edema in the Practice of Neurosurgery
Clinical Experiences with Steroids in Neurosurgical Patients
The Effect of Dexamethasone on Water and Electrolyte Content and on rCBF in Perifocal Brain Edema in Man
Clinical Studies on the Effect of Corticosteroids on the Ventricular Fluid Pressure
Double Blind Study of the Effects of Dexamethasone on Acute Stroke
Discussion to Chapter I
Discussion to Chapter II
Discussion to Chapter III
Discussion to Chapter IV
Round Table Discussion.