The purpose of this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was to assess safety and efficacy of cerebrolysin used in dosage 50 ml in acute ischemic stroke. Forty-seven patients with ischemic stroke, aged 45-85 years, who were admitted to a clinical unit within the first 12 h after stroke onset were included in the study. A quantitative time-related MRI analysis of the dynamics of neurological deficit revealed the more rapid decrease of stroke volume to the 28th day in the group treated with cerebrolysin (45.4% versus 43.6% in the placebo-group (p < 0.05)). No side-effects of treatment with cerebrolysin was found. The results of this prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled study suggest the positive effect of cerebrolysin on the dynamics of volume lesion in patients with ischemic stroke.

Using digital EEG, MRT, NIH scale and Barthel index, 84 patients with first ischemic stroke in the inner carotid artery system were examined during the first 30 days of the disease. According to EEG data recorded at the 1(st) and 3(rd) days, patients were divided into 3 groups: first one with the EEG-focus in the theta and delta bands; the second in the theta, and delta bands; the third in the theta and delta hands. in the third group, the highest percentage of mortality and severe disability as well as the worse functional rehabilitation were observed. In contrast, patients of the first group had better outcomes of stroke. When patients were grouped by EEG data recorded at the 1(st) day of stroke, between-group differences in the clinical dynamics became more distinct that suggested the high prognostic value of digital EEG data obtained on the first day of the disease.

The aim of the study was to assess safety and efficacy of the neuroprotective drug Cerebrolysin in acute ischemic stroke. Thirty-six patients with ischemic stroke in carotid artery territory aged 45-85 years, were eligible for inclusion in the trial if they were admitted to the hospital within the first 12h after stroke onset. Patients were randomly and blindly assigned to placebo (n = 12) or 1 or 2 dosages of Cerebrolysin: 10 ml/d (n = 12) and 50 ml/d (n = 12) for 10 days with concomitant standard basic treatment in each group. A quantitative time-related analysis of the dynamics of neurological deficit revealed the tendency towards acceleration of improvement assessed by the Clinical Global Impression Scale and NIHSS in both Cerebrolysin groups by 30 day of the treatment. The significant reduction in the volume of MRI ischemic focus was shown in both Cerebrolysin groups (p < 0.05 vs Placebo) on day 3. Acute pharmacological test revealed a decrease (p < 0.05 vs Placebo) of the size and spread of delta and theta foci in 72.7% patients, receiving 50 ml/d of Cerebrolysin. In none of the cases, Cerebrolysin treatment provoked any paroxysmal activity on EEG. The trial demonstrated safety, efficacy and good tolerability of hige-dose Cerebrolysin in the treatment of ischemic stroke.