It is reported that nitroglycerin (NTG) induces the elevation of intracranial pressure (ICP). Because of it, the use of NTG in patients exhibiting the increased ICP especially in the neurosurgical field is thought to be avoided. However, these reported cases dealt with normal patients. Few cases under the condition of exactly increased intracranial pressure were studied. Our 31 patients of the hemorrhagic intracranial lesion (subarachnoid hemorrhage and hypertensive intracranial hemorrhage) at the acute stage were treated by NTG infusion as an antihypertensive drug, and the ICP was measured using the epidural pressure transducer. The 31 patients were divided into three groups. Group 1 consists of the 14 patients exhibiting normal ICP (< 15mmHg). Group 2 consists of 9 patients showing elevated ICP (15mmHg < or =). Group 3 consists of 8 patients treated with glycerol before the NTG infusion. Group 1 demonstrates a statistically significant elevation of ICP corresponding with the blood pressure depression. Group 2 showed no significant elevation of it. Group 3 disclosed no remarkable elevation of it both in the elevated ICP cases and the normal ICP cases. As mentioned above, the intravenous NTG caused a remarkable increase of ICP in the normal compliance of the intracranial contents and no elevation of ICP in the poor compliance. We conclude that NTG can be used for blood pressure control at an acute stage even in hemorrhagic intracranial lesion as anti-depressor.