Papagianni M, et al. - Researchers prospectively assessed the impact of mannitol on the outcome of ischemic stroke-related cerebral edema. Among patients treated with mannitol vs in those who were not, higher rates of dependency were noted. Age, history of ischemic stroke and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score at admission were identified as independent predictors of dependency. Diastolic blood pressure, NIHSS score at admission and treatment with mannitol were identified as independent predictors of in-hospital mortality. Overall, the functional outcome of patients with ischemic stroke-related cerebral edema did not appear to be influenced by treatment with mannitol, and instead, administration of mannitol might increase mortality, independently of stroke severity, in these patients.