title: Neuroprotective Effects of Erythropoietin in Patients with Severe Closed Brain Injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our research was focused on the neuroprotective function of erythropoietin (Epo) in patients with severe closed traumatic brain injury (TBI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Our model examined the influence of the outcome and neurological recovery in 42 adults with TBI who were admitted to ICU within 6 hours of their injury and were recruited into a randomized controlled study of two groups; only the patients of the intervention group received 10,000 i.u. of Epo for 7 consecutive days. A prognostic model based on CRASH II injury model and outcome was measured by survival and Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended version (GOS-E) score at 6 months post-injury.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six patients (18.7%) died during the first two weeks; 4 of the control group and 2 of the intervention group. A mortality rate of 22.2% and 8.3% for the control and intervention group respectively was observed. A lower rate of good outcome (GOS-E score > 4) at 6 months was mentioned among patients of the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study provides evidence of lower mortality and better neurological outcome for the patients who received Epo increasing the possibility that Epo therapy could be used in clinical practice, limiting neuronal damage induced by TBI.
authors.affiliation: ICU, 401 General Army Hospital of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Stavros
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aloizos
authors.forename: Efimia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Evodia
authors.forename: Stavros
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gourgiotis
authors.forename: Eleni-Christina
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Isaia
authors.forename: Charalampos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Seretis
authors.forename: George J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Baltopoulos
mesh_terms: D018806:APACHE; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D023261:Glasgow Outcome Scale; D016489:Head Injuries, Closed / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D007427:Intracranial Pressure; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011379:Prognosis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D004921:Erythropoietin