New pharmacologic approaches to acute spinal cord injury.
The incidence of spinal cord injury (SCI) in the United States is approximately 10,000 new cases per year. Strategies to prevent injury or salvage a few dermatomal levels may have significant effects on outcome. Several pharmacologic agents have been evaluated for their efficacy in patients with acute SCI. Methylprednisolone, when administered early, was the first drug to show significant improvement in outcome and is a standard of comparison for future agents. Several new drugs show promising results in animal models of SCI, with more extensive human trials currently under way. Results of more well-controlled clinical trials are necessary to determine which agents have significant neurologic benefits.
Rhoney
D H
DH
Department of Pharmacy Services, Detroit Receiving Hospital, Michigan, USA.
Luer
M S
MS
Hughes
M
M
Hatton
J
J
D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005732:Gangliosides / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology
D000975:Antioxidants; D005732:Gangliosides; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone