title: Emerging pharmacological agents to improve survival from traumatic brain injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review emerging pharmacological agents for the treatment of traumatic brain injury with regard to survival outcomes and provide recommendations regarding their use.
  
  
  METHODS
  An Ovid MEDLINE (up to May 2013) and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (up to May 2013) search was conducted to identify emerging pharmacological therapies for the treatment of traumatic brain injury. The search was limited to English language and humans. Pharmacological agents that were evaluated with respect to survival as an outcome were included.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Based on the search, the investigators identified the following new therapies: beta-receptor antagonists, erythropoiesis stimulating agents, hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) and progesterone. With the exception of progesterone, which was studied in several small, randomized, controlled trials, the remaining agents were primarily studied in observational retrospective cohorts. For each of the agents identified, a potential increase in survival was noted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Emerging pharmacological agents represent promising treatment options for traumatic brain injury to improve survival. Most of these agents are commercially available for other indications. However, limitations in study design, sample size, duration of treatment, timing of treatment and inclusion of heterogeneous patient populations make it difficult to draw definitive conclusions from the literature.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy Practice & Science, College of Pharmacy, University of Arizona , Tucson, AZ , USA.
authors.forename: John J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Radosevich
authors.forename: Asad E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Patanwala
authors.forename: Brian L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Erstad
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006397:Hematinics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007427:Intracranial Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D006397:Hematinics; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D011374:Progesterone