Karakulova · Zhurnal nevrologii i psikhiatrii imeni S.S. Korsakova 2017 · open-label randomized controlled trial · n=80

[Monitoring of neurotrophic factors and cognitive function in patients with traumatic brain injury].

Cited 13 times in the scientific literature.

Level 2 - randomized trial

Individual randomized controlled trial

PubMed 29171486 · doi:10.17116/jnevro201711710134-37 · record verified 2026-08-26

What was done

An open-label, comparative, randomized study examined 80 patients (56 men, 24 women, aged 18–64 years) with moderate traumatic brain injury in acute and long-term recovery periods. Neurological status, cognitive function via a frontal dysfunction scale, and serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels were evaluated before and after treatment with cerebrolysin.

What was found

The abstract reports no numerical values, effect sizes, confidence intervals, or exact p-values. It qualitatively states that cognitive impairment was linked to low baseline serum BDNF levels (more pronounced with frontal and temporal damage) and that cerebrolysin treatment was followed by significant positive dynamics on the frontal dysfunction scale alongside increased serum BDNF levels.

Why it matters

The study suggests a relationship between circulating BDNF and cognitive dysfunction in traumatic brain injury, as well as a possible biochemical and clinical response to cerebrolysin.

Limits

The abstract provides zero numerical findings or exact statistical values. The trial is open-label, lacks description of control/comparator conditions and dosing protocols in the abstract, and is limited by a modest sample size.

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