title: Effects of atorvastatin on chronic subdural hematoma: a preliminary report from three medical centers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) is common and more prevalent in the aged population. Surgical intervention is the treatment of choice, but its outcomes may not be satisfactory because of recurrence and physical infirmity associated with aging. Aberrant angiogenesis and localized inflammation contribute to the formation of CSDH. Atorvastatin is active in promoting angiogenesis and modulating inflammation. We hypothesize that atorvastatin is effective in reducing CSDH and have tested the hypothesis in a preliminary prospective study of small cohort of patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-three patients with CT- or MRI-confirmed CSDH were recruited from three regional medical centers and evaluated using Markwalder's Grading Scale (MGS) and the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). These patients received oral atorvastatin 20 mg/day for 1-6 months (3.02±1.77 months) and were followed for 3 to 36 months (18.62±13.13) after the therapy. Hematoma volume, neurological functions and daily activities (measured using the Activities of Daily Life-the Barthel Index scale, ADL-BI) were compared before and after treatment with Linear Trend Chi-Square test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-two of the 23 patients experienced improvements in symptoms, and the reduction in hematoma volume from 48.70±20.38 ml to 16.64±14.28 ml (paired-sample t-test, p<0.01) within the first month of the treatment. Hematoma was completely resolved in 17 patients (77.3%) and shrank by more than 73.99%±11.17% in 5 patients (22.7%) 3 months after the treatment was initiated. One patient experienced an initial relief of symptoms, but his condition deteriorated with an enlarged hematoma during the 4th week of treatment and underwent surgery. At 6 months, 18 patients presented no hematoma by CT or MRI and four patients, whose hematoma was completely resolved at 3 months, were not followed. None of these 22 patients relapsed during the entire follow-up period of 3-36 months. All have improved MGS, GCS, and ADL-BI. No atorvastatin-related side effects were documented.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results of this preliminary prospective study show that the oral administration of atorvastatin is safe and effective in treating CSDH, offering a cost-effective alternative to surgery. A prospective randomized clinical trial is required to validate the effect of atorvastatin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Tianjin Medical University, General Hospital, 154 Anshan Road, Tianjin, China; Key Laboratory of Post-trauma Neuro-repair and Regeneration in Central Nervous System, Ministry of Education, 154 Anshan Road, Tianjin, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Injuries, Variations and Regeneration of Nervous System, 154 Anshan Road, Tianjin, China; Tianjin Neurological Institute, 154 Anshan Road, Tianjin, China. Electronic address: 54454241@qq.com.
authors.forename: Dong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Tianjin Medical University, General Hospital, 154 Anshan Road, Tianjin, China; Key Laboratory of Post-trauma Neuro-repair and Regeneration in Central Nervous System, Ministry of Education, 154 Anshan Road, Tianjin, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Injuries, Variations and Regeneration of Nervous System, 154 Anshan Road, Tianjin, China; Tianjin Neurological Institute, 154 Anshan Road, Tianjin, China. Electronic address: lt19880619@sina.com.
authors.forename: Tuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Tianjin Medical University, General Hospital, 154 Anshan Road, Tianjin, China; Key Laboratory of Post-trauma Neuro-repair and Regeneration in Central Nervous System, Ministry of Education, 154 Anshan Road, Tianjin, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Injuries, Variations and Regeneration of Nervous System, 154 Anshan Road, Tianjin, China; Tianjin Neurological Institute, 154 Anshan Road, Tianjin, China. Electronic address: yetian1986@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ye
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Ordos Center Hospital, 23 Yijinhuoluo West Street, Inner Mongolia, China. Electronic address: 18804771185@139.com.
authors.forename: Shaobo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Beichen Hospital, 7 Beiyi Road, Tianjin, China. Electronic address: lnjcj@sina.com.
authors.forename: Chunjie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Tianjin Medical University, General Hospital, 154 Anshan Road, Tianjin, China; Key Laboratory of Post-trauma Neuro-repair and Regeneration in Central Nervous System, Ministry of Education, 154 Anshan Road, Tianjin, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Injuries, Variations and Regeneration of Nervous System, 154 Anshan Road, Tianjin, China; Tianjin Neurological Institute, 154 Anshan Road, Tianjin, China. Electronic address: huijiewei@126.com.
authors.forename: Huijie
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Tianjin Medical University, General Hospital, 154 Anshan Road, Tianjin, China; Key Laboratory of Post-trauma Neuro-repair and Regeneration in Central Nervous System, Ministry of Education, 154 Anshan Road, Tianjin, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Injuries, Variations and Regeneration of Nervous System, 154 Anshan Road, Tianjin, China; Tianjin Neurological Institute, 154 Anshan Road, Tianjin, China. Electronic address: doc_q@163.com.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Quan
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Tianjin Medical University, General Hospital, 154 Anshan Road, Tianjin, China; Key Laboratory of Post-trauma Neuro-repair and Regeneration in Central Nervous System, Ministry of Education, 154 Anshan Road, Tianjin, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Injuries, Variations and Regeneration of Nervous System, 154 Anshan Road, Tianjin, China; Tianjin Neurological Institute, 154 Anshan Road, Tianjin, China. Electronic address: jhw8799@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Jinghua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI 48202, USA. Electronic address: jieli@neuro.hfh.edu.
authors.forename: Jieli
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Puget Sound Blood Research Institute, 921 Terry Ave, Seattle, WA, USA. Electronic address: jfdong@psbc.org.
authors.forename: Jingfei
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Tianjin Medical University, General Hospital, 154 Anshan Road, Tianjin, China; Key Laboratory of Post-trauma Neuro-repair and Regeneration in Central Nervous System, Ministry of Education, 154 Anshan Road, Tianjin, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Injuries, Variations and Regeneration of Nervous System, 154 Anshan Road, Tianjin, China; Tianjin Neurological Institute, 154 Anshan Road, Tianjin, China. Electronic address: jianghope@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Rongcai
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Tianjin Medical University, General Hospital, 154 Anshan Road, Tianjin, China; Key Laboratory of Post-trauma Neuro-repair and Regeneration in Central Nervous System, Ministry of Education, 154 Anshan Road, Tianjin, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Injuries, Variations and Regeneration of Nervous System, 154 Anshan Road, Tianjin, China; Tianjin Neurological Institute, 154 Anshan Road, Tianjin, China. Electronic address: jianningzhang@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Jianning
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D020200:Hematoma, Subdural, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D011758:Pyrroles; D000069059:Atorvastatin
keywords: Absorption; Atorvastatin; Chronic subdural hematoma; Clinical trial; Conservative therapy; Prospective study