Neuroprotective Effects of Citicoline in Diffuse Axonal Injuries

Atta Mahdkhah

doi:10.7575/aiac.abcmed.v.1n.1p.12

Abstract

Citicoline is a neuroprotective agent and fundamental item of phospholipid biosynthesis in cell walls. In this study, we aimed at examining the effect of citicoline in patients suffering from traumatic brain injury with Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) ≤ 8, and diffuse axonal injury (DAI) diagnosis. Efficacy of citicoline was evaluated by measurement of malondialdehyde (MDA) plasma levels as a marker of oxidative stress. Forty patients were randomly divided into two groups of cases (treated with citicoline) and controls (treated without citicoline). The duration of study was 15 days and 13 blood samplings were performed on the 1st, 10th and12th days of admission to evaluate the plasma levels of MDA. Citicoline was administered intravenously with dosage of 500mg/6h. In the control group, the mean plasma levels of MDA were 2.54±0.83, 2.43±0.79 and 2.39±0.97 ng/dL in first, second, and third blood samplings, respectively (P=0.85). In the case group, the mean plasma levels of MDA were 2.46±1.08, 1.99± 0.81 and 1.60±0.6 ng/dL in first, second and third blood samplings, respectively (P=0.01). The mean total plasma levels of MDA were comparable in the case (2.64±1.08 ng/dL) and control groups (2.54±0.83 ng/dL) (P=0.78). The results of this study suggest that citicoline is an effective neuroprotective agent which might be used in order to reduce MDA levels. Keywords: Citicoline; malondialdehyde; traumatic brain injury

Highlights

Nowadays, trauma is one of the most important causes of mortality and morbidity around the world
This would be of great importance especially in patients with severe and critical traumatic brain injury (TBI) and diffuse axonal injury (DAI) with Glasgow Coma Score (GCS)
To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of citicoline in TBI and DAI patients

Summary

Introduction

Trauma is one of the most important causes of mortality and morbidity around the world. Due to the irreversible nature of neuronal injuries, new therapeutic projects have been focused on the free radicals [4]. This would be of great importance especially in patients with severe and critical TBI and DAI with Glasgow Coma Score (GCS)

Methods

Results

Discussion