Effect of Diamox on Intracranial Pressure and Blood Volume

Abstract

A method is described for thevivo determination of intracranial blood volume. In adult cats, intravenous Diamox ( 150 mg/kg) produced a bimodal increase in cerebrospinal fluid pressure, 1 peak occurring 1 minute following administration, and the other peak occurring 8 to 10 minutes following administration. The 1st pressure peak is associated with an increase in arterial and venous pressures and an increased intracranial blood volume. The 2nd pressure peak is associated with falling arterial and venous pressures and an intracranial blood volume near the control values. An increase in total blood volume, as determined by a radio-iodinated human serum albumin dilution technic, was observed reaching a maximum 20 minutes following Diamox administration and remaining elevated for another 40 minutes. A 10% increase in hematocrit was observed, following approximately the same time course as the total blood volume. Parenteral Diamox would thus appear to be ineffective and potentially dangerous in the presence of increased cerebrospinal fluid pressure.