Role of dexamethasone in the outcome from acute stroke

Forty patients of acute stroke of less than 48 hours duration above the age of 40 years were studied. All patients were evaluated as per the evaluation scoring system at the time of admission within 24 hours and 7 days after admission to hospital. 25 patients were given dexamethasone and 15 patients who were not given dexamethasone were matched for age, sex, underlying diseases and clinical condition as per the evaluation scoring. The mean evaluation score in study group showed significant improvement at 7 days (p less than 0.05) as compared to control group. There was no significant difference in mortality between the study and control group, being 36% and 33% respectively. Functional status also remained identical in the two groups at the time of discharge. There was also no significant difference in the outcome of patients of intracerebral haemorrhage vs. cerebral infarction whether treated with dexamethasone or not.