Failure of deferoxamine, an iron chelator, to improve neurologic outcome following complete cerebral ischemia in dogs.

Eleven minutes of complete cerebral ischemia was produced in 17 dogs by temporary ligation of the venae cavae and aorta. Immediately prior to the ischemic episode, 7 dogs received deferoxamine, an iron chelator, 50 mg/kg i.v., and 10 dogs received an equivalent volume of saline placebo i.v. Five dogs failed to meet preestablished protocol criteria and were excluded from data analysis. Neurologic recovery was evaluated by an observer blind to the treatment groups in the remaining 12 dogs at 48 hours postischemia. The neurologic effects of complete cerebral ischemia were compared between dogs treated with deferoxamine and those receiving placebo treatment. One of 6 deferoxamine-treated dogs was normal and 5 were moderately to severely damaged. Similarly, 1 of 6 placebo-treated dogs was normal and 5 were moderately to severely damaged. The authors conclude that deferoxamine does not provide cerebral protection in this model of complete cerebral ischemia.