Effects of Dexamethasone in Primary Supratentorial Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Abstract
To evaluate the efficacy of dexamethasone for treatment of primary supratentorial intracerebral hemorrhage, we studied 93 patients 40 to 80 years old, using a double-blind randomized block design. After the subjects were stratified according to their level of consciousness (Glasgow Coma Scale), those with objectively documented primary supratentorial intracerebral hemorrhage were randomly assigned to either dexamethasone or placebo. For ethical reasons, three interim analyses were planned, to permit early termination of the trial if one study group did better than the other.