Prophylaxis of Stroke in Patients with Cerebral Ischemia with Depressive Syndrome

Abstract

The clinical efficacy of Cytoflavin was studied in the treatment of 30 patients (group 1) with cerebral ischemia (CI) grades I and II and depressive syndrome developing on the background of arterial hypertension. On the background of basal therapy, Cytoflavin was prescribed at a dose of 10 ml given by i.v. infusion in 200 ml of 0.9% sodium chloride solution for 10 days, followed by two tablets twice daily for 25 days. Group 2, consisting of 29 patients, received placebo. Treatment duration was 35 days and patients were observed for 90 days with follow-up visits on days 5, 10, 20–35, and 65–90. After treatment with Cytoflavin, the severity of neurological symptomatology decreased significantly in almost all patients of group 2, with elimination of subjective disorders in patients with grade I CI. On days 20–35, patients of this group also showed improvement in the concentration of attention and gradual recovery of memory functions, along with improvements in thought processes and increases in speech activity (word production rate). The positive effects of Cytoflavin on depression depended on its severity. This was more marked in mild depression, and altered the register of depression to a lower level in moderate and severe depression. Cytoflavin treatment can be prescribed for patients with CI with depressive syndrome on the background of arterial hypertension for the prophylaxis of the progression of cerebrovascular pathology and to prevent stroke.