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Cerebrolysin in Early Stroke Rehabilitation - Tertiary Study

Not Applicable
Recruiting
Conditions
Rehabilitation Outcome
Cerebrolysin
Ischemic Stroke, Acute
Interventions
Drug: The patients in Arm 1 will be treated with cerebrolysin and standard treatment.
Registration Number
NCT07043686
Lead Sponsor
University Medical Centre Ljubljana
Brief Summary

The study evaluates the effect and safety of Cerebrolysin administered during early rehabilitation in patients with moderate neurological impairment after acute ischemic stroke, conducted at the Department of Vascular Neurology and Intensive Neurological Therapy, UMC Ljubljana.

Detailed Description

Cerebrolysin is a neuropeptide preparation from porcine brain in an aqueous solution. The composition of 1 ml of the solution contains 215.2 mg of a low molecular weight fraction of polypeptides extracted from porcine brain (Cerebrolysin concentrate), which corresponds to at least 5.8 mg of peptide nitrogen (15%) and free amino acids (85%).

Cerebrolysin has been registered for many years for the treatment of cerebrovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, as well as traumatic brain injuries worldwide. Since the first approval, the treatment of ischemic stroke (IS) has progressed and new treatment concepts have been developed. In addition, the treatment of IS with Cerebrolysin has developed with different time windows, doses and duration of treatment. The main objective of this study is to determine the effectiveness of Cerebrolysin in early rehabilitation as an adjunct to standard treatment in a group of patients with moderate to severe neurological impairment after acute IS in specific KOVNINT conditions.

All patients will receive acute IS care according to local standards of care, which will not be changed or influenced by the study in any way. To assess the safety and efficacy of Cerebrolysin in practice at KOVNINT, the outcome of patients treated with Cerebrolysin will be compared to patients in the control group who will not receive Cerebrolysin.

The reason for conducting the study is to determine the effectiveness of Cerebrolysin treatment in patients with moderate to severe neurological deficits after acute IS at KOVNINT and to assess the impact of these parameters on the outcome of treatment, especially the effect on neurological impairment at discharge and 90 days after IS.

The aim of this study is to observe the safety and efficacy of Cerebrolysin in patients with moderate to severe neurological impairment after acute IS in the specific KOVNINT conditions. We will conduct an analysis of the use of Cerebrolysin as an adjunct to standard treatment and evaluate its efficacy in the early phase of IS, defined by neurological impairment at discharge and 90 days after IS.

Primary efficacy endpoint:

• The primary endpoint is the improvement in the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score at 90 days after IS onset in the group of patients treated with Cerebrolysin.

Secondary efficacy endpoints include:

* Improvement in the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score at discharge and 90 days after IS onset in the group of patients treated with Cerebrolysin.

* Improvement in the mRS score at discharge in the Cerebrolysin-treated group.

* Improvement in the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) score discharge and 90 days after IS in the Cerebrolysin-treated group.

* Improvement in the De Morton Mobility Index (DEMMI) score at discharge and 90 days after IS in the Cerebrolysin-treated group.

* Improvement in the Extended Barthel Index (EBI) at discharge and 90 days after ICU in the Cerebrolysin-treated group.

* Increase in the proportion of patients with excellent recovery (mRS score 0-1) 90 days after IS in the Cerebrolysin-treated group.

* Increase in the proportion of patients with functional independence (mRS score 0-2) 90 days after IS in the group of patients treated with Cerebrolysin.

* Improvement in the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score 90 days after IS in the group of patients treated with Cerebrolysin.

Consecutive patients will be enrolled in the study over a specified period, with the investigator independently deciding to treat with Cerebrolysin within 7 days after IS after obtaining informed consent. Patients will be included whose clinical diagnosis of acute IS will be confirmed by imaging, with patients having moderate to severe neurological impairment, defined by an initial NIHSS score of 6-12. All patients will receive standard care for IS according to local treatment. Treatment standards will not be changed and they will not be affected by the study.

Cerebrolysin group: (15 patients) Patients who will be treated with Cerebrolysin will receive the drug according to the SmPC. Dosage 30 ml/day, 10 days. Administration by intravenous infusion (IV infusion). Administration procedure: The drug is diluted to a volume of 100 ml with 0.9% saline. The infusion time will be 15 min.

Patients will receive the drug in accordance with the regulations on sterility of the application. To ensure sterility, single-use infusion sets and cannulas are always used. The infusion is started as soon as possible after dilution.

Control group: (15 patients) Patients receiving all standard care for ICU and not receiving Cerebrolysin.

Inclusion criteria:

* Signed informed consent from the patient or relatives,

* Inclusion in the study within 7 days after the onset of acute IS,

* Sex: female and male,

* Clinical diagnosis of acute IS, confirmed by imaging (CT, MRI),

* Moderate to severe neurological impairment according to the NIHSS scale (sum of 6 to 12 points),

* No history of previous IS and/or hemorrhagic stroke,

* No previous disability, independence before the onset of IS (premorbid mRS 0),

* Patient understands the instructions,

* Patient must be able to sit over the edge of the bed,

* Patient must be able to perform the ARAT test.

Exclusion criteria:

* Previous IS and hemorrhagic stroke,

* Previous disability (mRS score \> 0),

* Patient unable to perform the ARAT test,

* Patient unable to understand instructions (sensory aphasia).

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
30
Inclusion Criteria

Being able to perform ARAT test Signed informed consent

Both sexes, age not specified

Acute ischemic stroke confirmed by imaging

NIHSS score 6-12

No prior stroke or disability (mRS 0 before stroke)

Exclusion Criteria

Not being able to perform ARAT test

  • Previous stroke or disability (mRS > 0)
  • The patient unable to understand instructions

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Arm 1: Cerebrolysin GroupThe patients in Arm 1 will be treated with cerebrolysin and standard treatment.The patients in Arm 1 will be treated with cerebrolysin and standard treatment.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
90-day Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) Score change90 days post-stroke

A standardized test after stroke to measure the function of the upper limb. Range of scores: 0-57, with higher scores meaning a better outcome.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
The De Morton Mobility Index (DEMMI) Score 90 days90 days

Mobility assessment in elderly population, range 0-100, with higher scores meaning a better outcome

Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) 90 days90 days

MoCA is a screening tool for mild cognitive impairment, range 0-30, with higher scores meaning a better outcome

National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) at discharge and 90 days90 days

NIHSS is standardized in stroke medicine for measuring neurological deficits after stroke; range of scores 0-42, higher scores mean a worse outcome

Extended Barthel index (EBI) 90 days post-stroke90 days

EBI measures neurological improvement after stroke in activities of daily living, range 0-100, with higher scores meaning better outcome

Modified Rankin Score (mRS) at day 9090 days

mRS is a functional global scale measuring the functional disability after stroke, widely accepted in international registries and trials of stroke, range 0-6, with higher scores meaning worse outcome

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

UMC Ljubljana - Department of Vascular Neurology and Intensive Neurological Therapy (KOVNINT)

🇸🇮

Ljubljana, Slovenia

UMC Ljubljana - Department of Vascular Neurology and Intensive Neurological Therapy (KOVNINT)
🇸🇮Ljubljana, Slovenia
Matija Zupan, MD, PhD
Principal Investigator
Marjan Zaletel, MD, PhD
Sub Investigator
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