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Evidence summaries

Piracetam for Acute Stroke

Piracetam is not beneficial in the treatment of acute stroke. Level of evidence: "A"

A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included 3 studies with a total of 1 002 subjects with acute stroke. One randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, multicenter trial 2 contributed 93% of the data. Piracetam given i.v. within 48 hours of acute stroke was associated with a statistically non-significant increase in death at one month (OR 1.32, 95% CI 0.96 to 1.82). This trend was no longer apparent in the large trial after correction for imbalance in stroke severity. The data showed no difference between the treatment and control groups for functional outcome, dependency or proportion of patients dead or dependent. Adverse effects were not reported.

    References

    • Ricci S, Celani MG, Cantisani TA et al. Piracetam for acute ischaemic stroke. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2012;9:CD000419. [PubMed].
    • De Deyn PP, Orgogozo JM, De Reuck J. Acute treatment of stroke. PASS group. Piracetam Acute Stroke Study. Lancet 1998;352(9124):326. [PubMed]

Primary/Secondary Keywords