Abstract
Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) has been reported to have beneficial effects in the treatment of central nervous system trauma, possibly due to its reported anti-inflammatory, antiedemic, anticoagulate, diuretic, hypothermic, vasodilatory, and respiratory stimulatory effects as well as an ability to correct membrane instability and penetrate the blood-brain barrier. In this paper we discussed these properties, and how they may be of benefit in ischemic cerebral infarction and elevated intracranial pressure. We also described a study we performed to determine if treatment with DMSO would decrease the morbidity and mortality from experimental cerebral infarction.