Intravenous glycerol in cerebral infarction: a controlled 4-month trial.

A double-blind, randomized trial was performed with 51 patients suffering from focal ischemic lesions in the territory of the middle cerebral artery. Intravenous infusions of 10% glycerol in 0.9% NaCl--5% glucose solutions were administered twice daily for 6 days to 26 patients, and the same amount of NaCl--glucose solutions to 25 controls. Glycerol did not reduce mortality (9 deaths in each group). The functional recovery was assessed by repeated neurological examinations during the 4 month trial. Glycerol significantly improved global performances and motor and sensory functions in patients with moderate disability, but its effect on global performances was transient. The patients with severe disability were not improved at all.