Efficacy and safety of Cerebrolysin in patients with hemorrhagic stroke.
The purpose of the study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of Cerebrolysin in patients with hemorrhagic stroke. The primary objective of this trial was to assess the clinical efficacy and safety of a 10-days course of therapy with a daily administration of Cerebrolysin (50 mL i.v. per day). The trial had to demonstrate that Cerebrolysin treatment is safe in hemorrhagic stroke.


METHODS
The study was performed as a prospective, randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group study with 2 treatment groups. Efficacy measures were the Unified Neurological Stroke Scale, Barthel Index, and Syndrome Short Test. The duration of the trial was of 21 days for each patient. Out of 100 randomized patients, a total of 96 (96%) completed the study.


RESULTS
Overall, no statistically significant group effects were observed based on single average comparisons at the individual visits. It could be shown that the treatment of hemorrhagic stroke with Cerebrolysin is safe and well tolerated.


CONCLUSIONS
In the changes of UNSS, BI and SST from baseline to day 21, the group differences are not statistically significant; however, the use of Cerebrolysin in hemorrhagic stroke is safe and well tolerated and studies with a larger sample size may provide statistical evidence of Cerebrolysin's efficacy in patients with hemorrhagic stroke.
Department of Neurology, University Hospital Bucharest, 169 Splaiul Independentei, District 5, 76251 Bucharest, Romania. ovalbajenaru@yahoo.com
O
O
Bajenaru
C
C
Tiu
H
H
Moessler
F
F
Antochi
D
D
Muresanu
B O
BO
Popescu
Philipp
P
Novak
D000368:Aged; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012449:Safety; D020521:Stroke / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000596:Amino Acids; C006952:cerebrolysin