Problems With Morphine Use in Patients With a Severe Brain Injury
Status:
Unknown status
Trial end date:
2008-04-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Hypothesis: During severe brain trauma (injury, surgery) the ensuing inflammatory response in
the central nervous system (CNS) results in a decrease in the expression of the transporter
protein p-glycoprotein (PGP) in the blood brain barrier. This loss results in the penetration
into the brain of certain drugs that are normally excluded by the transporter protein. In
this study the working hypothesis is that the agitation observed in patients with CNS trauma
treated with morphine is related to the inflammation evoked loss of PGP in the blood brain
barrier and the accumulation of the morphine metabolite 3-morphine glucuronide.