Cerebrolysin as an Add-On Therapy to Standard Treatment of Basilar Artery Occlusion

Summary

The standard therapy for acute ischemic posterior circulation stroke (PCS) often leads to poor functional outcomes and high mortality rates, despite all advances in reperfusion therapy. Recent trials have shown that adding Cerebrolysin, a cerebral neuroprotective agent, to standard therapy for patients with acute ischemic anterior circulation stroke is safe and leads to improved functional outcomes. The purpose of this study is to assess the effectiveness and safety of Cerebrolysin with standard treatment for patients with PCS secondary to basilar artery occlusion (BAO). The plan is to conduct a prospective, single-center, single-arm, open-label study with 20 acute basilar artery occlusion patients and premorbid modified Rankin Score (mRS) ≤3, treated with standard treatment (mechanical thrombectomy ± intravenous alteplase or conservative treatment) and Cerebrolysin as add-on therapy, compared with historical controls. Besides standard acute stroke assessment, standard treatment, and rehabilitation, the participants who meet the eligibility criteria will receive Cerebrolysin in a single-day dosage of 30 ml intravenously for 14 consecutive days. The participants will be closely monitored, and neuroimaging findings and clinical outcomes will be obtained during the drug administration period, on discharge, one month, and 3 months after the treatment onset. The primary endpoints are mRS (0-3) on day 90 and mortality rate 90 days after the stroke onset. The secondary endpoints are defined as a change in any type of intracerebral bleeding and a change of min. 2 points on the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale 24 hours, 14 days, 30 days, and 90 days post-stroke. The investigators hypothesize that adding Cerebrolysin to standard stroke treatment will improve clinical outcomes and reduce morbidity and mortality in patients with acute basilar occlusion compared to standard treatment alone.

Timeline

Start

2024-07

Primary completion

2025-05

Completion

2026-05

Publications

• Background Hawkes MA, Blaginykh E, Ruff MW, Burrus T, Wijdicks EFM, Rabinstein AA. Long-term mortality, disability and stroke recurrence in patients with basilar artery occlusion. Eur J Neurol. 2020 Mar;27(3):579-585. doi: 10.1111/ene.14126. Epub 2019 Dec 8.
• Background Smith WS, Lev MH, English JD, Camargo EC, Chou M, Johnston SC, Gonzalez G, Schaefer PW, Dillon WP, Koroshetz WJ, Furie KL. Significance of large vessel intracranial occlusion causing acute ischemic stroke and TIA. Stroke. 2009 Dec;40(12):3834-40. doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.109.561787. Epub 2009 Oct 15.
• Background Lang W, Stadler CH, Poljakovic Z, Fleet D; Lyse Study Group. A prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial about safety and efficacy of combined treatment with alteplase (rt-PA) and Cerebrolysin in acute ischaemic hemispheric stroke. Int J Stroke. 2013 Feb;8(2):95-104. doi: 10.1111/j.1747-4949.2012.00901.x. Epub 2012 Sep 26.
• Background Khasanova DR, Kalinin MN. Cerebrolysin as an Early Add-on to Reperfusion Therapy: Risk of Hemorrhagic Transformation after Ischemic Stroke (CEREHETIS), a prospective, randomized, multicenter pilot study. BMC Neurol. 2023 Mar 27;23(1):121. doi: 10.1186/s12883-023-03159-w.
• Background Guekht A, Vester J, Heiss WD, Gusev E, Hoemberg V, Rahlfs VW, Bajenaru O, Popescu BO, Doppler E, Winter S, Moessler H, Muresanu D. Safety and efficacy of Cerebrolysin in motor function recovery after stroke: a meta-analysis of the CARS trials. Neurol Sci. 2017 Oct;38(10):1761-1769. doi: 10.1007/s10072-017-3037-z. Epub 2017 Jul 13.
• Background Poljakovic Z, Supe S, Ljevak J, Starcevic K, Peric I, Blazevic N, Krbot-Skoric M, Jovanovic I, Ozretic D. Efficacy and safety of Cerebrolysin after futile recanalisation therapy in patients with severe stroke. Clin Neurol Neurosurg. 2021 Aug;207:106767. doi: 10.1016/j.clineuro.2021.106767. Epub 2021 Jun 18.
• Background Hacke W, Kaste M, Bluhmki E, Brozman M, Davalos A, Guidetti D, Larrue V, Lees KR, Medeghri Z, Machnig T, Schneider D, von Kummer R, Wahlgren N, Toni D; ECASS Investigators. Thrombolysis with alteplase 3 to 4.5 hours after acute ischemic stroke. N Engl J Med. 2008 Sep 25;359(13):1317-29. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa0804656.

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