The influence of dexamethasone on subarachnoid fibrosis after subarachnoid haemorrhage. Scanning electron microscopic study in the dog.

The author used the scanning electron microscope (SEM) to study the influence of dexamethasone on subarachnoid fibrosis after experimental subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH). In the subchronic group of dogs, which were sacrificed three weeks after SAH, an average of 2.82 mg/kg intrathecal dexamethasone seemed to delay the fibrosis somewhat, but statistically showed no significant difference from the control group. In the chronic group, sacrificed three months after SAH, an average of 0.95 mg/kg intrathecal dexamethasone did not prevent the fibrosis, and no significant difference was found from the untreated dogs. The author considers that steroid therapy only delays and does not diminish the inflammatory process. This may also apply to other types of arachnoiditis.