Cerebrolysin in Patients with TBI: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Evidence-Based Review of Randomized Controlled Trials of Interventions for Mental Health Management Post-Moderate to Severe Traumatic Brain Injury

OBJECTIVE

To present an evidence-based review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating interventions for mental health post-moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (post-MSTBI), as part of an extensive database that has been conceptualized as a living systematic review.

METHODS

Systematic searches were conducted for RCTs published in the English language in MEDLINE, PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, EMBASE, and PsycINFO, up to and including December 2022, in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. The methodological quality of RCTs was assessed using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database scale, and the level of evidence was assigned using a modified Sackett scale.

RESULTS

Eighty-seven RCTs examining mental health interventions and outcome measures post-MSTBI were included. These studies collectively enrolled 6471 participants. A total of 41 RCTs (47.1%) were conducted in the United States and 56 studies (64.4%) were published after 2010. A total of 62 RCTs (71.3%) examined nonpharmacological interventions and 25 RCTs (28.7%) examined pharmacological interventions. Effective pharmacological treatments included desipramine and cerebrolysin; methylphenidate and rivastigmine showed conflicting evidence. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) was found to be effective for hopelessness, stress, and anxiety, compared to usual care; however, it may be as effective as supportive psychotherapy for depression. CBT combined with motivational interviewing may be as effective as CBT combined with nondirective counseling for depression, stress, and anxiety. Acceptance and commitment therapy was effective for anxiety, stress, and depression. Tai Chi, dance, and walking appeared to be effective for depression and stress, while other nonpharmacological treatments such as peer mentoring showed limited effectiveness.

CONCLUSION

This evidence-based review provides a comprehensive overview of the research landscape of RCTs addressing mental health post-MSTBI. The findings from these RCTs may be valuable for health care professionals, researchers, and policymakers involved in the field of mental health and neurorehabilitation.

Heterogeneous treatment effects of Cerebrolysin as an early add-on to reperfusion therapy: post hoc analysis of the CEREHETIS trial

Background: There has been intensive research into enhancing the effects of reperfusion therapy to mitigate hemorrhagic transformation (HT) in stroke patients. Using neuroprotective agents alongside intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) appears a promising approach. Cerebrolysin is one of the candidates since it consists of neuropeptides mimicking the action of neurotrophic factors on brain protection and repair. Objectives: We looked at treatment effects of Cerebrolysin as an early add-on to IVT in stroke patients with varying HT risk. Methods: It was post hoc analysis of the CEREHETIS trial (ISRCTN87656744). Patients with middle cerebral artery infarction (n = 238) were selected from the intention-to-treat population. To stratify participants according to their HT risk, the DRAGON, SEDAN and HTI scores were computed for each eligible subject using on-admission data. The study endpoints were any and symptomatic HT, and functional outcome measured with the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) on day 90. Favorable functional outcome (FFO) was defined as an mRS ≤2. The performance of each stratification tool was estimated with regression approaches. Heterogeneous treatment effect analysis was conducted using techniques of meta-analysis and the matching-smoothing method. Results: The HTI score outperformed other tools in terms of HT risk stratification. Heterogeneity of Cerebrolysin treatment effects was moderate (I2, 35.8%-56.7%; H2, 1.56-2.31) and mild (I2, 10.9%; H2, 1.12) for symptomatic and any HT, respectively. A significant positive impact of Cerebrolysin on HT and functional outcome was observed in the moderate (HTI = 1) and high (HTI ≥2) HT risk patients, but it was neutral in those with the low (HTI = 0) risk. In particular, there was a steady decline in the rate of symptomatic (HTI = 0 vs. HTI = 4: by 4.3%, p = 0.077 vs. 21.1%, p < 0.001) and any HT (HTI = 0 vs. HTI = 4: by 1.2%, p = 0.737 vs. 32.7%, p < 0.001). Likewise, an mRS score reduction (HTI = 0 vs. HTI = 4: by 1.8%, p = 0.903 vs. 126%, p < 0.001) with a reciprocal increase of the fraction of FFO patients (HTI = 0 vs. HTI = 4: by 1.2% p = 0.757 vs. 35.5%, p < 0.001) was found. Conclusion: Clinically meaningful heterogeneity of Cerebrolysin treatment effects on HT and functional outcome was established in stroke patients. The beneficial effects were significant in those whose estimated on-admission HT risk was either moderate or high.

[Cerebrolysin as an early add-on to reperfusion therapy: heterogeneous treatment effect analysis in ischemic stroke patients with varying risk of hemorrhagic transformation]

OBJECTIVE

The study goal was the assessment of heterogeneous treatment effects of Cerebrolysin as an early add-on to reperfusion therapy in stroke patients with varying risk of hemorrhagic transformation (HT).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

It was post hoc analysis of the CEREHETIS trial (ISRCTN87656744). Patients with middle cerebral artery infarction (n=238) were stratified by HT risk with the HTI score. The study outcomes were symptomatic and any HT, and functional outcome measured with the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) on day 90. Favorable outcome was defined as an mRS score of ≤2. Heterogeneous treatment effect analysis was performed using techniques of meta-analysis and the matching-smoothing method.

RESULTS

Heterogeneity of Cerebrolysin treatment effects was moderate (I2=36.98-69.3%, H2=1.59-3.26) and mild (I2=18.33-32.39%, H2=1.22-1.48) for symptomatic and any HT, respectively. A positive impact of the Cerebrolysin treatment on HT and functional outcome was observed in patients with moderate (HTI=1) and high (HTI≥2) HT risk. However, the effect was neutral in those with low risk (HTI=0). In high HT risk patients, there was a steady decline in the rate of symptomatic (HTI=0 vs. HTI≥2: by 3.8%, p=0.120 vs. 14.3%, p<0.001) and any HT (HTI=0 vs. HTI≥2: by 0.6%, p=0.864 vs. 19.5%, p<0.001). Likewise, Cerebrolysin treatment resulted in an overall decrease in the mRS scores (HTI=0 vs. HTI≥2: by 2.1%, p=0.893 vs. 63%, p<0.001) with a reciprocal increase of the fraction with favorable outcome (HTI=0 vs. HTI≥2: by 2% p=0.634 vs. 19.2%, p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

Clinically meaningful heterogeneity of Cerebrolysin treatment effects on HT and functional outcome was established in stroke patients. The Cerebrolysin positive impact was significant in those whose estimated on-admission HT risk was either moderate or high.

[Traumatic brain injury as risk factor of Alzheimer's disease and possibilities of pathogenetic therapy]

The article examines the potential role of brain mechanical damage as a trigger for the development of neurodegenerative changes. Attention is paid to dysfunction of the neurovascular unit, and disruption of the functional and compensatory capabilities of blood flow. The importance of microhemorrhages that occur in the acute period of injury and the formation of first focal and then diffuse neuroinflammation is emphasized. The importance of mitochondrial dysfunction was separately determined as a significant factor in increasing the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD) in patients after traumatic brain injury (TBI). In TBI, there is a decrease in the expression of tight junction (TC) proteins of endothelial cells, such as occludin, claudin, JP, which leads to increased permeability of the blood-brain barrier. TBI, provoking endothelial dysfunction, contributes to the development of metabolic disorders of β-amyloid and tau protein, which in turn leads to worsening vascular damage, resulting in a vicious circle that can ultimately lead to the development of AD and dementia. Age-related changes in cerebral arteries, which impair perivascular transport of interstitial fluid, are currently considered as an important part of the «amyloid cascade», especially against the background of genetically mediated disorders of glial membranes associated with defective aquaporin-4 (encoded by the APOE4). Studies in animal models of TBI have revealed an increase in tau protein immunoreactivity and its phosphorylation, which correlates with the severity of injury. A comprehensive analysis of research results shows that the cascade of reactions triggered by TBI includes all the main elements of the pathogenesis of AD: disorders of energy metabolism, microcirculation and clearance of cerebral metabolic products. This leads to a disruption in the metabolism of amyloid protein and its accumulation in brain tissue with the subsequent development of tauopathy. Cerebrolysin, by modulating the permeability of the blood-brain barrier, blocks the development of neuroinflammation, reduces the accumulation of pathological forms of proteins and may be slow down the progression of neurodegeneration.

Cerebrolysin in Patients with Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Subarachnoid Hemorrhage (SAH) is one of the acute neurological conditions that is associated with high mortality and recovery failure rates. In recent years, due to the development of endovascular and classical techniques, the mortality rate after SAH has decreased. Currently, more research is focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying SAH. Methods of treatment are investigated in order to obtain the best treatment result, not only survival. One of the drugs used in stroke, including SAH, is Cerebrolysin. It is a mixture of neuropeptides that has similar properties to neurotrophic factors. Its positive impact on strokes has been analyzed; however, there are no meta-analyses concerning only the subpopulation of patients diagnosed with SAH in the current literature. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis of available clinical trials to evaluate the effect of Cerebrolysin on the treatment outcome. The data suggest a positive effect of Cerebrolysin on the mortality of SAH patients. However, further randomized clinical trials with larger groups of patients are needed to draw final conclusions.