Adjunctive dexamethasone in bacterial meningitis: a meta-analysis of individual patient data.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Dexamethasone improves outcome for some patients with bacterial meningitis, but not others. We aimed to identify which patients are most likely to benefit from dexamethasone treatment.

Methods

We did a meta-analysis of individual patient data from the randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of dexamethasone for bacterial meningitis in patients of all ages for which raw data were available. The pre-determined outcome measures were death at the time of first follow-up, death or severe neurological sequelae at 1 month follow-up, death or any neurological sequelae at first follow-up, and death or severe bilateral hearing loss at first follow-up. Combined odds ratios (ORs) and tests for heterogeneity were calculated using conventional Mantel-Haenszel statis

SUBMITTER: van de Beek D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2835871 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature