Dexamethasone does not influence infarct size but causes haemorrhage in baboons with cerebral infarcts

15 baboons with permanent occlusion of the left MCA were randomly treated with dexamethasone (n = 8; 1 mg/kg day) or 0.9% NaCl (n = 5). Dexamethasone did not reduce the resulting infarct size. However, steroid treated animals had more brain tissue affected by haemorrhage, although this did not seem to affect survival.