Oral Glyburide for the Prevention of Cerebral Edema in Acute Ischemic Stroke.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to describe the impact of enteral glyburide on cerebral edema formation and hypoglycemia when used to treat patients diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). METHODS: This study was a single-center, retrospective medical record review that included all patients aged ≥18 years diagnosed with AIS who received ≥1 dose of enteral glyburide for the prevention of cerebral edema from January 1, 2018 to March 31, 2022. The primary outcome was the percentage of patients requiring intervention for cerebral edema management after glyburide initiation, and the safety outcome was the occurrence of hypoglycemia in this patient population. RESULTS: The final evaluation included 44 patients, with 6 patients (14%) requiring intervention for cerebral edema after glyburide initiation. The average baseline National Institutes of Health stroke scale score was 19. Overall, in-hospital mortality was 36% (n = 17), and hypoglycemia occurred in 7 patients (15%). Of the 44 patients, 20 (45%) received a partial duration of enteral glyburide (1-4 doses) and 24 (55%) received a full duration of enteral glyburide (5-7 doses). The rate of intervention for cerebral edema (10% vs. 17%) and the incidence of hypoglycemia (5% vs. 23%) were lower in the partial duration than in the full duration group. The in-hospital all-cause mortality rate was higher in the partial duration group than in the full duration group (43% vs. 31%). CONCLUSIONS: Despite the relatively low rates of intervention for cerebral edema, hypoglycemia was common, especially for patients receiving 5-7 doses of enteral glyburide for the prevention of cerebral edema after moderate-to-severe AIS.