Intraventricular atrial natriuretic peptide for acute intracranial hypertension

The effect of intraventricular atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) on elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) was evaluated in a rodent model of global ischemia and reperfusion. ANP administration into the lateral ventricle 30 minutes after reperfusion statistically significantly reduced ICP compared with both vehicle treated animals (p < 0.001) and pretreatment pressures (p < 0.001). The ICP effects of ANP did not coincide with specific changes in regional perfusion parameters measured by laser-Doppler flowmetry. Two different vehicles for ANP were used to verify that the changes in ICP observed were independent of the sodium content administered in the vehicle. Based on the reductions observed in ICP, ANP deserves further evaluation as a treatment modality for the acute elevations in ICP associated with ischemic brain injury.