Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences Library, University of Utah
Abstract
High dose (1 to 2 gr/day) IV methylprednisolone (MP) has been used to treat various optic neuropathies. Recently, IV mannitol (MN) was successfully substituted for high dose MP to treat papillitis in two patients on the assumption that the "anti-edematous" action of steroids could be mimicked using IV MN. To test this hypothesis, serum osmolalities were measured for 3 days in 21 patients receiving IV MP (250 mg q 6 hours) to treat various optic neuropathies, and compared to values from 1 0 control patients