Positive effects of cerebrolysin on electroencephalogram slowing, cognition and clinical outcome in patients with postacute traumatic brain injury:: An exploratory study

The potential effects of Cerebrolysin (EBEWE Pharma, Unterach, Austria), a peptide preparation with neurotrophic activity, on brain bioelectrical activity, cognitive performance and clinical outcome in postacute traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients, were investigated in an exploratory study. A decrease in slow electroencephalogram (EEG) activity and an increase in fast frequencies were observed after the administration of Cerebrolysin. This EEG-activating effect was not influenced by TBI time course or severity, nor by the chronic treatment with nootropic compounds. Cognitive performance, evaluated with the Syndrome Kurztest test, improved in TBI patients after Cerebrolysin treatment, independent of disease severity, time course or disability. A significant improvement in the patients' clinical outcome, only evident during the first year after brain trauma, was also found following Cerebrolysin infusions. No relevant changes in biological parameters nor drug-related adverse events were observed. These promising preliminary results suggest that Cerebrolysin might be a useful treatment to improve the recovery of patients with traumatic brain damage, and encourage the conduction of confirmatory clinical trials. (C) 2003 Lippincott Williams Wilkins.