title: Simvastatin's effects on survival and outcome in traumatic braininjury patients: a comparative study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Mortality and morbidity still remain high in patients with traumatic brain injuries. Understanding the role of new treatments in these patients is critical. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of simvastatin on survival and outcome in traumatic brain injury patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-four patients were assigned to receive either simvastatin or a placebo. The serum interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein levels were measured at the first 24 h and 48 h after trauma. All data, including the Glasgow Coma Scale score, survival at discharge, length of intensive care unit stay, and duration of mechanical ventilation, were collected. The effect of simvastatin on the collected data was then investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Glasgow Coma Scale level at discharge was significantly higher in the simvastatin group. The overall mortality rate, duration of mechanical ventilation, and length of intensive care unit stay were similar between the 2 groups. The C-reactive protein concentration 48 h after trauma was significantly lower in the simvastatin group, but there was no significant difference according to the interleukin-6 level 48 h after trauma between the 2 groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Simvastatin could be suggested as an adjunctive therapy in traumatic brain injury patients.
authors: Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Science, Zanjan, Iran.
authors: Taraneh
authors: T
authors: Naghibi
authors: Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Science, Zanjan, Iran.
authors: Sara
authors: S
authors: Madani
authors: Department of Epidemiology, School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Science, Zanjan, Iran.
authors: Saideh
authors: S
authors: Mazloomzadeh
authors: School of Pharmacy, Zanjan University of Medical Science, Zanjan, Iran.
authors: Faramarz
authors: F
authors: Dobakhti
mesh_terms: D001930:Brain Injuries; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019821:Simvastatin; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D019821:Simvastatin
keywords: Simvastatin; outcome; survival; traumatic brain injury