[The effect of neurotrophic treatment on the activation of reparative processes in patients with acute traumatic brain injury].
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Uncontrolled before-and-after case series with no comparator group
What was done
Researchers evaluated cognitive and emotional status, Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) scores, and serum levels of serotonin and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in 72 patients with acute traumatic brain injury (with a specific focus on middle brain injury) before and after treatment with Cerebrolysin as part of complex therapy.
What was found
Before treatment, patients exhibited neurological and cognitive impairment, mild state anxiety and depression, and injury-severity-dependent elevated baseline serotonin levels. Following Cerebrolysin therapy, the abstract reports a decrease in the severity of neurological symptoms, significant positive improvement on the FAB scale, and increases in circulating BDNF and serotonin levels. The abstract provides no specific numerical values, effect sizes, or p-values.
Why it matters
The study suggests that Cerebrolysin may stimulate endogenous neurotrophic markers (BDNF and serotonin) while supporting neurological and cognitive recovery in acute traumatic brain injury.
Limits
The study lacks a control or placebo group, making it impossible to separate pharmacological effects from natural post-injury recovery. The abstract reports no quantitative data, standard deviations, or statistical significance metrics. The sample size is modest (n = 72), and long-term clinical functional outcomes were not reported.
Cited by
- supports Russian studies have evaluated Cortexin and Cerebrolysin for traumatic brain injury (TBI).