Cerebrolysin for acute ischaemic stroke
Abstract
Background
Cerebrolysin is a mixture of low‐molecular‐weight peptides and amino acids derived from pigs' brain tissue, which has potential neuroprotective and neurotrophic properties. It is widely used in the treatment of acute ischaemic stroke in Russia, Eastern Europe, China, and other Asian and post‐Soviet countries.
Objectives
To assess the benefits and risks of cerebrolysin for treating acute ischaemic stroke.
Search methods
In May 2016 we searched the Cochrane Stroke Group Trials Register, CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science Core Collection, with Science Citation Index, LILACS, OpenGrey, and a number of Russian Databases. We also searched reference lists, ongoing trials registers and conference proceedings, and contacted the manufacturer of cerebrolysin, EVER Neuro Pharma GmbH (formerly Ebewe Pharma).
Selection criteria
Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing cerebrolysin, started within 48 hours of stroke onset and continued for any time, with placebo or no treatment in people with acute ischaemic stroke.
Data collection and analysis
Two review authors independently applied inclusion criteria, assessed trial quality and risk of bias, and extracted data.
Main results
We identified six RCTs (1501 participants) that met the inclusion criteria.
We evaluated risk of bias and judged it to be unclear for generation of allocation sequence in four studies and low in two studies; unclear for allocation concealment in five studies and low in one study; high for incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) in five studies and unclear in one study; unclear for blinding; high for selective reporting in four studies and unclear in two; and high for other sources of bias in three studies and unclear in the rest. The manufacturer of cerebrolysin, pharmaceutical company EVER Neuro Pharma, supported three multi‐centre studies, either totally, or providing cerebrolysin and placebo, randomisation codes, research grants, or statisticians.
None of the included trials reported on poor functional outcome defined as death or dependence at the end of the follow‐up period or early death (within two weeks of stroke onset).
All‐cause death: we extracted data from five trials (1417 participants). There was no difference in the number of deaths: 46/714 in cerebrolysin group versus 47/703 in placebo group; risk ratio (RR) 0.91 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.61 to 1.35 (5 trials, 1417 participants, moderate‐quality evidence).
Serious adverse events (SAEs): there was no significant difference in the total number of SAEs with cerebrolysin (RR 1.16, 95% CI 0.81 to 1.67). This comprised no difference in fatal SAEs (RR 0.90, 95% CI 0.59 to 1.38) and an increase in the number of people with non‐fatal SAEs (20/667 with cerebrolysin and 8/668 with placebo: RR 2.47, 95% CI 1.09 to 5.58, P = 0.03) (3 trials, 1335 participants, moderate‐quality evidence).
Total number of people with adverse events: three trials reported on this. There was no difference in the total number of people with adverse events: 308/667 in cerebrolysin group versus 307/668 in placebo group; RR 0.97 95% CI 0.86 to 1.09, random‐effects model (3 trials, 1335 participants, moderate‐quality evidence).
Authors' conclusions
The findings of this Cochrane Review do not demonstrate clinical benefits of cerebrolysin for treating acute ischaemic stroke. We found moderate‐quality evidence of an increase in non‐fatal SAEs with cerebrolysin use but not in total SAEs.
PICOs
Plain language summary
Cerebrolysin for acute ischaemic stroke
Review question
Are there any benefits of using cerebrolysin to treat people with acute ischaemic stroke, and are there any risks?
Background
Cerebrolysin, a mixture derived from pig brain tissue, is widely used in Russia, Eastern Europe, China, and other Asian and post‐Soviet countries. We assessed evidence from randomised controlled trials (RCTs) investigating cerebrolysin in people with acute ischaemic stroke.
Study characteristics
This review included six RCTs with a total of 1501 participants that compared cerebrolysin with placebo (inactive medication) added to standard treatment of acute stroke, including thrombolysis. Three of them were large multicentre studies, two were small in size and were judged to be of unclear quality, and one did not include numerical results.
Key results
The evidence is current up to June 2016. This review of six trials involving 1501 participants showed no beneficial effect of cerebrolysin in terms of death in people with acute ischaemic stroke. There was no difference in the total number of people with adverse events but a concern that cerebrolysin may increase the risk of people having non‐fatal serious adverse events compared with placebo.
Quality of the evidence
The medication and methodology of the majority of included trials were provided by the manufacturer of cerebrolysin creating a likely conflict of interest. There is moderate‐quality evidence currently available that suggests cerebrolysin performs no better than placebo in terms of all‐cause death when given to people with acute ischaemic stroke within 48 hours of stroke onset. There is moderate‐quality evidence that raises concerns about the increase of serious adverse events with cerebrolysin use in people with acute ischaemic stroke. Further research is likely to have an important impact on our confidence in the estimate of cerebrolysin risks in contributing to serious adverse events in people with acute stroke.
