title: Citicoline in pre-clinical animal models of stroke: a meta-analysis shows the optimal neuroprotective profile and the missing steps for jumping into a stroke clinical trial.
abstract: The neuroprotective actions of citicoline have been documented for experimental stroke therapy. We used a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess this evidence. From 64 identified studies using citicoline in stroke animal models, only those describing ischemic occlusive stroke and reporting data on infarct volume and/or neurological outcome were included (14 studies, 522 animals). Overall, the quality of the studies was modest (5, 4-6), while the absence of studies involving animals with co-morbidities, females, old animals or strain differences indicated that studies did not fulfill the STAIR recommendations. Weighted mean difference meta-analysis showed citicoline to reduce infarct volume by 27.8% [(19.9%, 35.6%); p < 0.001]. In the stratified analysis, citicoline effect on reducing infarct volume was higher in proximal occlusive models of middle cerebral artery (MCA) compared with distal occlusion. Moreover, the efficacy was superior using multiple doses than single dose and when a co-treatment was administered compared with citicoline monotherapy, the only independent factor identified in the meta-regression. Citicoline improved neurological deficit by 20.2% [(6.8%, 33.7%); p = 0.015], but only four studies including 176 animals reported these data. In conclusion, this meta-analysis provides evidence of citicoline efficacy in stroke animal models and shows the optimal neuroprotective profile and the missing experimental requirements before jumping into clinical trials.
authors: Neurovascular Research Laboratory, Institut de Recerca Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors: Alejandro
authors: A
authors: Bustamante
authors: Dolors
authors: D
authors: Giralt
authors: Lidia
authors: L
authors: Garcia-Bonilla
authors: Mireia
authors: M
authors: Campos
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Rosell
authors: Joan
authors: J
authors: Montaner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods; D003566:Cytidine Diphosphate Choline / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018697:Nootropic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020521:Stroke / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D018697:Nootropic Agents; D003566:Cytidine Diphosphate Choline