Neuroprotective effects of edaravone after intraventricular hemorrhage in rats

Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) is a severity factor and treatment target in intracerebral hemorrhage. This study aimed to investigate whether systemic edaravone, a free-radical scavenger, could attenuate the brain injury after IVH in a rat model. Our findings showed that an intraventricular injection of autologous whole blood resulted in acute brain edema, increased malondialdehyde level, and decreased superoxide dismutase enzyme activity. Immediate edaravone treatment after IVH can reduce IVH-induced brain edema and elevated lipid peroxidation. Furthermore, repeated edaravone treatment (immediately, 24 h, and 48 h after IVH) improved the IVH-induced learning and memory damage. These effects suggest that edaravone may be a potential therapeutic agent for IVH, especially those intracerebral hemorrhage patients with ventricular extension.