Bauer 1973.

Methods	Double‐blind, placebo controlled Randomised Number of patients excluded after randomisation: 5 (including 1 lost to follow‐up, none included in analysis) Number lost to follow‐up: 1
Participants	USA 54 in total (after exclusions): 30 female, 24 male Mean age: 66 years Time from onset of stroke to enrolment: within 48 hours Method of diagnosis: clinical, lumbar puncture 100% 28 dexamethasone 26 placebo
Interventions	Dexamethasone versus placebo Intervention: dexamethasone 12 mg i.v. stat, 4 mg i.m. 6 hourly for 3 days, 4 mg i.m. 8 hourly for 3 days, 4 mg i.m. 12 hourly for 2 days, 4 mg i.m. 24 hourly for 2 days: total dose: 120 mg dexamethasone Placebo: unspecified All patients: prophylactic ulcer diet and antacid (30 cc Maalox) 4 times a day where oral intake possible Duration: 10 days
Outcomes	Death at 14 days Neurological impairment in the level of consciousness, the motor system and of mentation at 14 days
Notes	Exclusions: more than 300 red blood cells per cc in the cerebrospinal fluid; history of gastro‐intestinal bleeding or symptomatic duodenal ulcer Follow‐up: 14 days
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias)	Unclear risk	Not stated, but assumed computer‐generated by Merck, Sharp & Dohme
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Unclear risk	"randomisation was performed on a consecutive admission basis". Blind until last patient assessed
Blinding (performance bias and detection bias) All outcomes	Low risk	"coded vials which contained either Decadron [dexamethasone] or a similarly appearing placebo"
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes	Low risk	5 patients withdrawn (3 placebo, 2 dexamethasone). These were not included in analyses
Selective reporting (reporting bias)	Low risk