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Evidence summaries

Excitatory Amino Acid Inhibitors for Traumatic Brain Injury

There is no sufficient evidence about the effects of excitatory amino acid inhibiting drugs on traumatic brain injury, but more research is pending. Level of evidence: "D"

A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included two studies with a total of 760 subjects. Drugs which stop the release of excitatory amino acids or which block them are thought to reduce brain damage after brain injury. In these trials, mortality was similar between patients who received excitatory amino acid inhibitors and those that received placebo: odds ratio (OR) 1.11; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.78, 1.60. Patients who have a favourable outcome six months after injury are also similar between treatment and placebo groups: OR 0.86; 95% CI 0.64, 1.16.

References

  • Willis C, Lybrand S, Bellamy N. Excitatory amino acid inhibitors for traumatic brain injury. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2003;(1):CD003986.

Primary/Secondary Keywords