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Gatto LAM, Demartini Z, Telles JPM, Figueiredo EG. Does amantadine improve cognitive recovery in severe disorders of consciousness after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage? A double-blind placebo-controlled study. Clin Neurol Neurosurg 2024; 237:108135. [PMID: 38330801 DOI: 10.1016/j.clineuro.2024.108135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2024] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Severe disorders of consciousness (sDoC) are a common sequela of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhages (aSAH), and amantadine has been used to improve cognitive recovery after traumatic brain injury. OBJECTIVE This study evaluated the effect of amantadine treatment on consciousness in patients with sDoC secondary to aSAH. METHODS This double-center, randomized, prospective, cohort study included patients ≥ 18 years old with sDoC after aSAH from February 2020 to September 2023. Individual patient data of patients were pooled to determine the effect of amantadine, in comparison to placebo. The primary outcomes at 3 and 6 months after the ictus were evaluated using the modified Rankin scale (mRS) and Glasgow outcome scale (GOS). In addition to all-cause mortality, secondary endpoints were assessed weekly during intervention by scores on Rappaport's Disability Rating Scale (RDRS) and Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRSR). RESULTS Overall, 37 patients with sDoC and initial Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) varying between 3 and 11 were recruited and randomized to amantadine (test group, n = 20) or placebo (control group, n = 17). The average age was 59.5 years (28 to 81 year-old), 24 (65%) were women, and the mean GCS at the beginning of intervention was 7.1. Most patients evolved to vasospasm (81%), with ischemia in 73% of them. The intervention was started between 30 to 180 days after the ictus, and administered for 6 weeks, with progressively higher doses. Neither epidemiological characteristics nor considerations regarding the treatment of the aneurysm and its complications differed between both arms. Overall mortality was 10.8% (4 deaths). During the study, four patients had potential adverse drug effects: two presented seizures, one had paralytic ileus, and another evolved with tachycardia; the medication was not suspended, only the dose was not increased. At data opening, 2 were taking amantadine and 2 placebo. CONCLUSION Despite some good results associated with amantadine in the literature, this study did not find statistically significant positive effects in cognitive recovery in patients with delayed post-aSAH sDoC. Further large randomized clinical trials in patients' subgroups are needed to better define its effectiveness and clarify any therapeutic window where it can be advantageous.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Zeferino Demartini
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hospital de Clinicas - Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
| | - João Paulo Mota Telles
- Department of Neurology, Hospital das Clinicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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Ge Q, Wang Y, Zhuang Y, Li Q, Han R, Guo W, He J. Opioid-induced short-term consciousness improvement in patients with disorders of consciousness. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1117655. [PMID: 36816138 PMCID: PMC9936155 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1117655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Effective treatment to facilitate recovery from prolonged disorders of consciousness is a complex topic for the medical community. In clinical practice, we have found that a subset of patients has a short-term improvement of consciousness after general anesthesia. Methods To determine the clinical factors responsible for the consciousness improvement, we enrolled 50 patients with disorders of consciousness who underwent surgery from October 2021 to June 2022. Their states of consciousness were evaluated before surgery, within 48 h after surgery, and 3 months after surgery. Clinical-related factors and intraoperative anesthetic drug doses were collected and compared between patients with and without consciousness improvement. Independent associations between selected factors and postoperative improvement were assessed using multivariate logistical regression analyses. Results Postoperative short-term consciousness improvement was found in 44% (22/50) of patients, with significantly increased scores of auditory and visual subscales. Patients with traumatic etiology, a preoperative diagnosis of minimally conscious state, and higher scores in the auditory, visual, and motor subscales were more likely to have postoperative improvement. This short-term increase in consciousness after surgery correlated with patients' abilities to communicate in the long term. Furthermore, the amount of opioid analgesic used was significantly different between the improved and non-improved groups. Finally, analgesic dose, etiology, and preoperative diagnosis were independently associated with postoperative consciousness improvement. Discussion In conclusion, postoperative consciousness improvement is related to the residual consciousness of the patient and can be used to evaluate prognosis. Administration of opioids may be responsible for this short-term improvement in consciousness, providing a potential therapeutic approach for disorders of consciousness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianqian Ge
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yanjun Wang
- College of Anesthesiology, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Yutong Zhuang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Clinical College of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qinghua Li
- College of Anesthesiology, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Ruquan Han
- Department of Anesthesiology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Wenzhi Guo
- College of Anesthesiology, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China,Department of Anesthesiology, The Seventh Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China,Wenzhi Guo,
| | - Jianghong He
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China,*Correspondence: Jianghong He,
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Zheng RZ, Qi ZX, Wang Z, Xu ZY, Wu XH, Mao Y. Clinical Decision on Disorders of Consciousness After Acquired Brain Injury: Stepping Forward. Neurosci Bull 2023; 39:138-162. [PMID: 35804219 PMCID: PMC9849546 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-022-00909-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Major advances have been made over the past few decades in identifying and managing disorders of consciousness (DOC) in patients with acquired brain injury (ABI), bringing the transformation from a conceptualized definition to a complex clinical scenario worthy of scientific exploration. Given the continuously-evolving framework of precision medicine that integrates valuable behavioral assessment tools, sophisticated neuroimaging, and electrophysiological techniques, a considerably higher diagnostic accuracy rate of DOC may now be reached. During the treatment of patients with DOC, a variety of intervention methods are available, including amantadine and transcranial direct current stimulation, which have both provided class II evidence, zolpidem, which is also of high quality, and non-invasive stimulation, which appears to be more encouraging than pharmacological therapy. However, heterogeneity is profoundly ingrained in study designs, and only rare schemes have been recommended by authoritative institutions. There is still a lack of an effective clinical protocol for managing patients with DOC following ABI. To advance future clinical studies on DOC, we present a comprehensive review of the progress in clinical identification and management as well as some challenges in the pathophysiology of DOC. We propose a preliminary clinical decision protocol, which could serve as an ideal reference tool for many medical institutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui-Zhe Zheng
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, China
- National Center for Neurological Disorders, Shanghai, 200040, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Restoration and Neural Regeneration, Shanghai, 200040, China
- Neurosurgical Institute of Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, China
- Shanghai Clinical Medical Center of Neurosurgery, Shanghai, 200040, China
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Zeng-Xin Qi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, China
- National Center for Neurological Disorders, Shanghai, 200040, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Restoration and Neural Regeneration, Shanghai, 200040, China
- Neurosurgical Institute of Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, China
- Shanghai Clinical Medical Center of Neurosurgery, Shanghai, 200040, China
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Zhe Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, China
- National Center for Neurological Disorders, Shanghai, 200040, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Restoration and Neural Regeneration, Shanghai, 200040, China
- Neurosurgical Institute of Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, China
- Shanghai Clinical Medical Center of Neurosurgery, Shanghai, 200040, China
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Ze-Yu Xu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, China
- National Center for Neurological Disorders, Shanghai, 200040, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Restoration and Neural Regeneration, Shanghai, 200040, China
- Neurosurgical Institute of Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, China
- Shanghai Clinical Medical Center of Neurosurgery, Shanghai, 200040, China
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Xue-Hai Wu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, China.
- National Center for Neurological Disorders, Shanghai, 200040, China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Restoration and Neural Regeneration, Shanghai, 200040, China.
- Neurosurgical Institute of Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, China.
- Shanghai Clinical Medical Center of Neurosurgery, Shanghai, 200040, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Ying Mao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, China.
- National Center for Neurological Disorders, Shanghai, 200040, China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Restoration and Neural Regeneration, Shanghai, 200040, China.
- Neurosurgical Institute of Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, China.
- Shanghai Clinical Medical Center of Neurosurgery, Shanghai, 200040, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
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Rühl L, Kuramatsu JB, Sembill JA, Kallmünzer B, Madzar D, Gerner ST, Giede-Jeppe A, Balk S, Mueller T, Jäger J, Schwab S, Huttner HB, Sprügel MI. Amantadine treatment is associated with improved consciousness in patients with non-traumatic brain injury. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2022; 93:582-587. [PMID: 35086939 PMCID: PMC9148986 DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2021-327408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study determined the effect of amantadine treatment on consciousness in patients with non-traumatic brain injury. METHODS We pooled individual patient data of five single-centre observational studies to determine the effect of amantadine treatment among patients with ischaemic stroke, intracerebral haemorrhage, subarachnoid haemorrhage, community-acquired bacterial meningitis and status epilepticus, admitted between January 2012 and December 2015 and ventilated ≥7 days. Patient selection and multivariable regression modelling were used to adjust for differences in intergroup comparison and for parameters associated with consciousness. Improvement of consciousness 5 days after treatment initiation was defined as primary outcome. Secondary outcomes included Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) at day 5 and GCS at day 10, rate of ICU delirium, epileptic seizures and all-cause mortality at 90 days. RESULTS Overall, 84 of 294 (28.6%) eligible patients received amantadine. Amantadine treatment was associated with improvement of consciousness at day 5 (amantadine: 86.9% vs control: 54.0%; absolute difference: 32.9 (20.0-44.2); adjusted OR (aOR): 5.71 (2.50-13.05), p<0.001). Secondary outcomes showed differences in GCS 5 days (9 (8-11) vs 6 (3-9), p<0.001) and GCS 10 days (10(8-11) vs 9(6-11),p=0.003) after treatment initiation. There were no significant differences regarding all-cause mortality (aOR: 0.89 (0.44-1.82), p=0.758) and ICU delirium (aOR: 1.39 (0.58-3.31), p=0.462). Rate of epileptic seizures after initiation of amantadine treatment was numerically higher in the amantadine group (amantadine: 10.7% vs control: 3.0%; absolute difference: 7.7 (0.3-16.4); aOR: 3.68 (0.86-15.71), p=0.079). CONCLUSIONS Amantadine treatment is associated with improved consciousness among patients with different types of non-traumatic brain injury in this observational cohort analysis. Epileptic seizures should be considered as potential side effects and randomised controlled trials are needed to confirm these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lena Rühl
- Department of Neurology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Joji B Kuramatsu
- Department of Neurology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Jochen A Sembill
- Department of Neurology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Bernd Kallmünzer
- Department of Neurology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Dominik Madzar
- Department of Neurology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Stefan T Gerner
- Department of Neurology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Antje Giede-Jeppe
- Department of Neurology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Stefanie Balk
- Department of Neurology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Tamara Mueller
- Department of Neurology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Jakob Jäger
- Department of Neurology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Stefan Schwab
- Department of Neurology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Hagen B Huttner
- Department of Neurology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Maximilian I Sprügel
- Department of Neurology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
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Amantadine as a Potential Treatment for Marchiafava–Bignami Disease: Case Reports and a Possible Mechanism. Case Rep Neurol Med 2022; 2022:4585206. [PMID: 35444836 PMCID: PMC9015855 DOI: 10.1155/2022/4585206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Several reports have described the use of amantadine for managing symptoms in Marchiafava–Bignami disease (MBD); however, amantadine's role for the treatment of MBD symptoms is unclear. Here, we describe 2 patients with MBD who were treated with amantadine and hypothesize a potential mechanism responsible for clinical benefit. Case 1. A 38-year-old woman with excessive wine drinking presented with agitation, impaired speech, and a minimally conscious state. MRI revealed lesions in the splenium and genu. After being diagnosed with MBD, she was treated with intravenous thiamine, multivitamins, and 100 mg of amantadine twice a day for 2 weeks. She recovered to near baseline after 3 weeks. Case 2. A 54-year-old woman with years of heavy alcohol use presented with sudden bradyphrenia, acalculia, disinhibited behavior, weakness, and urinary incontinence. MRI revealed a large anterior callosal lesion. Two years after initial recovery from MBD, she noted that consuming “energy drinks” resulted in a transient, near-complete resolution of her residual behavioral, fatigue, and language symptoms. 100 mg of amantadine twice a day was trialled. After noted improvement, a further escalation to 200 mgs 3 times a day resulted in significant improvement in language and behavioral symptoms. Conclusion Amantadine in addition to vitamins may be beneficial in the treatment of MBD. It is possible that the dopaminergic effect of amantadine leads to improved recovery and function in dopamine-mediated pathways, including mesocortical and mesolimbic pathways during initial recovery, as well as improved speech, behavior, and fatigue in the following months. The role of amantadine in the treatment of MBD warrants further study.
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Irzan H, Pozzi M, Chikhladze N, Cebanu S, Tadevosyan A, Calcii C, Tsiskaridze A, Melbourne A, Strazzer S, Modat M, Molteni E. Emerging Treatments for Disorders of Consciousness in Paediatric Age. Brain Sci 2022; 12:198. [PMID: 35203961 PMCID: PMC8870410 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12020198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The number of paediatric patients living with a prolonged Disorder of Consciousness (DoC) is growing in high-income countries, thanks to substantial improvement in intensive care. Life expectancy is extending due to the clinical and nursing management achievements of chronic phase needs, including infections. However, long-known pharmacological therapies such as amantadine and zolpidem, as well as novel instrumental approaches using direct current stimulation and, more recently, stem cell transplantation, are applied in the absence of large paediatric clinical trials and rigorous age-balanced and dose-escalated validations. With evidence building up mainly through case reports and observational studies, there is a need for well-designed paediatric clinical trials and specific research on 0-4-year-old children. At such an early age, assessing residual and recovered abilities is most challenging due to the early developmental stage, incompletely learnt motor and cognitive skills, and unreliable communication; treatment options are also less explored in early age. In middle-income countries, the lack of rehabilitation services and professionals focusing on paediatric age hampers the overall good assistance provision. Young and fast-evolving health insurance systems prevent universal access to chronic care in some countries. In low-income countries, rescue networks are often inadequate, and there is a lack of specialised and intensive care, difficulty in providing specific pharmaceuticals, and lower compliance to intensive care hygiene standards. Despite this, paediatric cases with DoC are reported, albeit in fewer numbers than in countries with better-resourced healthcare systems. For patients with a poor prospect of recovery, withdrawal of care is inhomogeneous across countries and still heavily conditioned by treatment costs as well as ethical and cultural factors, rather than reliant on protocols for assessment and standardised treatments. In summary, there is a strong call for multicentric, international, and global health initiatives on DoC to devote resources to the paediatric age, as there is now scope for funders to invest in themes specific to DoC affecting the early years of the life course.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hassna Irzan
- School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, London WC2R 2LS, UK; (H.I.); (A.M.); (M.M.)
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, London WC1E 7JE, UK
| | - Marco Pozzi
- Scientific Institute IRCCS E. Medea, Acquired Brain Injury Unit, 22040 Bosisio Parini, Italy; (M.P.); (S.S.)
| | - Nino Chikhladze
- Faculty of Medicine, Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Tbilisi 0179, Georgia; (N.C.); (A.T.)
| | - Serghei Cebanu
- Faculty of Medicine, Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, MD-2004 Chišināu, Moldova; (S.C.); (C.C.)
| | - Artashes Tadevosyan
- Department of Public Health and Healthcare Organization, Yerevan State Medical University, Yerevan 0025, Armenia;
| | - Cornelia Calcii
- Faculty of Medicine, Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, MD-2004 Chišināu, Moldova; (S.C.); (C.C.)
| | - Alexander Tsiskaridze
- Faculty of Medicine, Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Tbilisi 0179, Georgia; (N.C.); (A.T.)
| | - Andrew Melbourne
- School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, London WC2R 2LS, UK; (H.I.); (A.M.); (M.M.)
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, London WC1E 7JE, UK
| | - Sandra Strazzer
- Scientific Institute IRCCS E. Medea, Acquired Brain Injury Unit, 22040 Bosisio Parini, Italy; (M.P.); (S.S.)
- Rehabilitation Service, “Usratuna” Health and Rehabilitation Centre, Juba, South Sudan
| | - Marc Modat
- School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, London WC2R 2LS, UK; (H.I.); (A.M.); (M.M.)
| | - Erika Molteni
- School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, London WC2R 2LS, UK; (H.I.); (A.M.); (M.M.)
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Li J, Zhang P, Liu Y, Wu S, Yi X, Zhang S, Wang C, Liu M. Early amantadine treatment reduces the risk of death in patients with large hemisphere infarctions:a Chinese hospital-based study. BMC Neurol 2021; 21:419. [PMID: 34711177 PMCID: PMC8554877 DOI: 10.1186/s12883-021-02444-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Amantadine hydrochloride is one of the most frequently prescribed drugs for patients with severe traumatic brain injury in restoring consciousness and accelerating the pace of functional recovery. However, there is a paucity of studies on the effectiveness of amantadine in patients with severe stroke especially large hemisphere infarction (LHI). The present study aimed to investigate whether amantadine treatment is associated with better clinical outcomes in conservatively treated LHI patients. Methods We retrospectively collected conservatively treated LHI patients according to inclusion/exclusion criteria. The patients were divided into two groups based on the treatment regimen, whether they did receive amantadine hydrochloride in addition to standard therapy (ST) or not. The primary outcomes were in-hospital death, 3-month mortality, and unfavorable outcome (defined as modified Rankin Scale score of 4 to 6). All outcomes were compared between the two groups before and after propensity score matching (PSM). Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify the association between early amantadine hydrochloride treatment and clinical outcomes in LHI patients. Results Thirty-one LHI patients treated with amantadine combined with ST and 127 patients treated with ST were enrolled. Amantadine group had a shorter prehospital delay (median: 2 vs. 10 h), a higher baseline NIHSS score (21.71 ± 4.76 vs. 17.49 ± 5.84), and a higher rate of dominant hemisphere involvement (67.74% vs. 45.67%). After PSM, amantadine treatment significantly reduced the risk of in-hospital death (7.41% vs. 31.11%, p=0.019) and 3-month mortality (25.93% vs. 55.56%, p=0.008). Amantadine treatment yielded a significant decrease in death in-hospital (before PSM: OR 0.143, 95% CI 0.034 to 0.605; after PSM: OR 0.113, 95% CI 0.020 to 0.635) and 3-month mortality (before PSM: OR 0.214, 95% CI 0.077 to 0.598; after PSM: OR 0.176, 95% CI 0.053 to 0.586) in unmatched and matched multivariate analyses. Conclusion The results of our study provide initial evidence that early amantadine treatment was associated with a decrease in death in conservatively treated LHI patients. Considering the limitations of observational study, randomized controlled trials with a large sample size may help provide a clearer picture of the utility of amantadine in LHI patients. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12883-021-02444-w.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Li
- Department of Neurology, People's Hospital of Deyang City, No.173, North Taishan Road, Deyang, 618000, Sichuan Province, PR China.,Center of Cerebrovascular Diseases, Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 GuoXue Xiang, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, 610041, PR China
| | - Ping Zhang
- Department of Neurology, People's Hospital of Deyang City, No.173, North Taishan Road, Deyang, 618000, Sichuan Province, PR China
| | - Yingying Liu
- Department of Neurology, People's Hospital of Deyang City, No.173, North Taishan Road, Deyang, 618000, Sichuan Province, PR China
| | - Simiao Wu
- Center of Cerebrovascular Diseases, Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 GuoXue Xiang, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, 610041, PR China
| | - Xingyang Yi
- Department of Neurology, People's Hospital of Deyang City, No.173, North Taishan Road, Deyang, 618000, Sichuan Province, PR China
| | - Shihong Zhang
- Center of Cerebrovascular Diseases, Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 GuoXue Xiang, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, 610041, PR China
| | - Chun Wang
- Department of Neurology, People's Hospital of Deyang City, No.173, North Taishan Road, Deyang, 618000, Sichuan Province, PR China.
| | - Ming Liu
- Center of Cerebrovascular Diseases, Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 GuoXue Xiang, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, 610041, PR China.
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Abstract
Amantadine and modafinil are neurostimulants that may improve cognitive and functional recovery post-stroke, but the existing study results vary, and no comprehensive review has been published. This systematic review describes amantadine and modafinil administration practices post-stroke, evaluates timing and impact on clinical effectiveness measures, and identifies the incidence of potential adverse drug effects. A librarian-assisted search of the MEDLINE (PubMed) and EMBASE databases identified all English-language publications with "amantadine" or "modafinil" in the title or abstract from inception through February 1, 2020. Publications meeting predefined Patient, Intervention, Comparator, Outcome (PICO) criteria were included: Patients (≥ 18 years of age post-stroke); Intervention (amantadine or modafinil administration); Comparison (pretreatment baseline or control group); Outcomes (cognitive or functional outcome). Amantadine and modafinil administration practices, cognitive and functional outcomes, and incidence of potential adverse drug effects were collected following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidance. Quantitative analyses were not performed due to heterogeneity in the clinical effectiveness measures; descriptive data are presented as number (percent) or median (interquartile range). Of 12,620 publications initially identified, 10 amantadine publications (n = 121 patients) and 12 modafinil publications (n = 120 patients) were included. Amantadine was initiated 39 (16, 385) days post-stroke, with most common initial doses of 100 mg once or twice daily (range 100-200 mg/day), and final daily dose of 200 (188, 200) mg/day. Modafinil was initiated 170 (17, 496) days post-stroke, with initial and final daily doses of 100 (100, 350) mg/day and 200 (100, 350) mg/day, respectively. The most common indication was consciousness disorders for amantadine (n = 3/10 publications; 30%) and fatigue for modafinil (n = 5/12; 42%). Forty unique clinical effectiveness measures (1.8 per study) with 141 domains (6.4 per study) were described across all studies. A positive response in at least one clinical effectiveness measure was reported in 70% of amantadine publications and 83% of modafinil publications. Only one publication each for amantadine (10%; n = 5 patients) and modafinil (8%; n = 21 patients) studied acutely hospitalized or ICU patients; both were randomized studies showing improvements in neurocognitive function for amantadine and fatigue for modafinil. Potential adverse drug effects were reported in approximately 50% of publications, most commonly visual hallucinations with amantadine (2% of patients) and dizziness (5% of patients) and dry eyes or mouth (5% of patients). Amantadine and modafinil may improve cognitive and functional recovery post-stroke, but higher-quality data are needed to confirm this conclusion, especially in the acute care setting.
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Danysz W, Dekundy A, Scheschonka A, Riederer P. Amantadine: reappraisal of the timeless diamond-target updates and novel therapeutic potentials. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2021; 128:127-169. [PMID: 33624170 PMCID: PMC7901515 DOI: 10.1007/s00702-021-02306-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The aim of the current review was to provide a new, in-depth insight into possible pharmacological targets of amantadine to pave the way to extending its therapeutic use to further indications beyond Parkinson's disease symptoms and viral infections. Considering amantadine's affinities in vitro and the expected concentration at targets at therapeutic doses in humans, the following primary targets seem to be most plausible: aromatic amino acids decarboxylase, glial-cell derived neurotrophic factor, sigma-1 receptors, phosphodiesterases, and nicotinic receptors. Further three targets could play a role to a lesser extent: NMDA receptors, 5-HT3 receptors, and potassium channels. Based on published clinical studies, traumatic brain injury, fatigue [e.g., in multiple sclerosis (MS)], and chorea in Huntington's disease should be regarded potential, encouraging indications. Preclinical investigations suggest amantadine's therapeutic potential in several further indications such as: depression, recovery after spinal cord injury, neuroprotection in MS, and cutaneous pain. Query in the database http://www.clinicaltrials.gov reveals research interest in several further indications: cancer, autism, cocaine abuse, MS, diabetes, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder, obesity, and schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wojciech Danysz
- Merz Pharmaceuticals GmbH., Eckenheimer Landstraße 100, 60318, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Andrzej Dekundy
- Merz Pharmaceuticals GmbH., Eckenheimer Landstraße 100, 60318, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Astrid Scheschonka
- Merz Pharmaceuticals GmbH., Eckenheimer Landstraße 100, 60318, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Peter Riederer
- Clinic and Policlinic for Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Würzburg, University of Würzburg, Margarete-Höppel-Platz 1, 97080, Würzburg, Germany.
- Department Psychiatry, University of Southern Denmark Odense, Vinslows Vey 18, 5000, Odense, Denmark.
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10
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Kondratieva EA, Kondratev SA, Denisova AA, Ivanova NE, Kondratiev AN. [Results of treatment with intravenous amantadine sulfate (PK-Merz) patients with chronic disorders of consciousness]. Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova 2021; 120:102-108. [PMID: 33459549 DOI: 10.17116/jnevro2020120121102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The article presents literature review of the recent publications devoted to the drugs with dopaminergic, antiglutamatergic and GABA-ergic effects in the treatment of patients with vegetative state/areactive wakefulness syndrome (VS/AWS). The authors analyzed their own results of the effects of intravenous form of amantadine sulfate (PK Merz) in 142 VS/AWS patients caused by different etiological factors. Depending on the dominant neurological symptoms, patients were divided into three main groups: areactive type of course (group 1 - 61 patients), predominance of primitive limbic reactions (group 2 - 35 patients) and predominance of extrapyramidal symptoms (group 3 - 46 patients). Therapy results were evaluated one month later by CRS-R scale, which showed that the most distinct positive dynamics was observed in group 3.
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Affiliation(s)
- E A Kondratieva
- Polenov Neurosurgical Institute branch of Almazov National Medical Research Centre, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - S A Kondratev
- Polenov Neurosurgical Institute branch of Almazov National Medical Research Centre, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - A A Denisova
- Admiral Makarov State University of Maritime and Inland Shipping, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - N E Ivanova
- Polenov Neurosurgical Institute branch of Almazov National Medical Research Centre, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - A N Kondratiev
- Polenov Neurosurgical Institute branch of Almazov National Medical Research Centre, St. Petersburg, Russia
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11
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Dale ML, Brumbach BH, Boxer AL, Hiller AL. Associations Between Amantadine Usage, Gait, and Cognition in PSP: A post-hoc Analysis of the Davunetide Trial. Front Neurol 2021; 11:606925. [PMID: 33408688 PMCID: PMC7779593 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.606925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Amantadine anecdotally improves gait in progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) but definitive data is lacking. We investigated associations between amantadine usage, gait, cognition, and activities of daily living in 310 subjects with PSP using data from the davunetide trial. Method: We compared baseline demographics, PSP Rating Scale (PSPRS), Repeat Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS), and Schwab and England Activities of Daily Living (SEADL) scores between subjects taking vs. not taking amantadine using chi-square tests for categorical variables and independent sample t-tests for continuous variables. Using the general linear model (GLM), we tested whether group status predicted total PSPRS, PSPRS-gait and midline, total RBANS, RBANS-attention, and SEADL before and after the 52-weeks follow-up. Results: Subjects taking vs. not taking amantadine were similar at baseline, except subjects taking amantadine had a higher Clinical Global Impression (CGI) Score (p = 0.01). However, the CGI change score did not differ between groups at week 52 (p = 0.10). Using GLM models (controlling for covariates), we found that subjects taking vs. not taking amantadine did not significantly predict total PSPRS, PSPRS-gait and midline, total RBANS, RBANS-attention, or SEADL at baseline, week 52, or the change score between baseline and week 52. Discussion: This post-hoc analysis of the davunetide trial did not find an association between amantadine and gait or cognitive measures in PSP, but was not powered to find such a difference. Future studies should still examine amantadine for symptomatic benefit in multiple PSP subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marian L Dale
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Health & Science University, The VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Barbara H Brumbach
- Biostatistics and Design Program, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Adam L Boxer
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Amie L Hiller
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Health & Science University, The VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR, United States
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12
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Gao Y, Zhang Y, Li Z, Ma L, Yang J. Persistent vegetative state after severe cerebral hemorrhage treated with amantadine: A retrospective controlled study. Medicine (Baltimore) 2020; 99:e21822. [PMID: 32872083 PMCID: PMC7437806 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000021822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Amantadine is currently recommended for use in patients of posttraumatic brain injury with unconsciousness. However, the application of amantadine in consciousness disturbance after cerebral hemorrhage has only been rarely reported. This allows for a further exploration of the role of amantadine in the treatment of PVS resulting from severe cerebral hemorrhage.Retrospective cohort study from 1/2015 to 7/2019 in Beijing Chaoyang hospital. We included adult patients treated with amantadine after severe cerebral hemorrhage in PVS. Primary outcome was time of consciousness recovery and Glasgow Out Scale scores after 5 months from onset. We compared characteristics and outcomes to a control cohort. matched on age, Coma Recovery Scale-Revised score, volume and location of hemorrhage.Among the 12 patients who received amantadine treatment, 6 patients regained consciousness (50%) after 5 months of disease onset, but were still severely disabled. Besides, the time for regaining consciousness was within 3 months of disease onset. The remaining 6 patients were still in a PVS. Compared with the amantadine group, the consciousness recovery rate (50% vs 33.3%, P = .68) after 5 months in the nested control group was not significantly different. The awakening time for patients in the amantadine group was earlier than the control group (100% vs 25%, P = .03).In this study, amantadine can accelerate the recovery of consciousness in patients following severe cerebral hemorrhage. We recommend further randomized controlled studies to determine the efficacy of amantadine.
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13
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Tang H, Zhu Q, Li W, Qin S, Gong Y, Wang H, Shioda S, Li S, Huang J, Liu B, Fang Y, Liu Y, Wang S, Guo Y, Xia Q, Guo Y, Xu Z. Neurophysiology and Treatment of Disorders of Consciousness Induced by Traumatic Brain Injury: Orexin Signaling as a Potential Therapeutic Target. Curr Pharm Des 2020; 25:4208-4220. [PMID: 31663471 DOI: 10.2174/1381612825666191029101830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2019] [Accepted: 10/21/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can cause disorders of consciousness (DOC) by impairing the neuronal circuits of the ascending reticular activating system (ARAS) structures, including the hypothalamus, which are responsible for the maintenance of the wakefulness and awareness. However, the effectiveness of drugs targeting ARAS activation is still inadequate, and novel therapeutic modalities are urgently needed. METHODS The goal of this work is to describe the neural loops of wakefulness, and explain how these elements participate in DOC, with emphasis on the identification of potential new therapeutic options for DOC induced by TBI. RESULTS Hypothalamus has been identified as a sleep/wake center, and its anterior and posterior regions have diverse roles in the regulation of the sleep/wake function. In particular, the posterior hypothalamus (PH) possesses several types of neurons, including the orexin neurons in the lateral hypothalamus (LH) with widespread projections to other wakefulness-related regions of the brain. Orexins have been known to affect feeding and appetite, and recently their profound effect on sleep disorders and DOC has been identified. Orexin antagonists are used for the treatment of insomnia, and orexin agonists can be used for narcolepsy. Additionally, several studies demonstrated that the agonists of orexin might be effective in the treatment of DOC, providing novel therapeutic opportunities in this field. CONCLUSION The hypothalamic-centered orexin has been adopted as the point of entry into the system of consciousness control, and modulators of orexin signaling opened several therapeutic opportunities for the treatment of DOC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huiling Tang
- Acupuncture Research Center, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Qiumei Zhu
- Acupuncture Research Center, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Wei Li
- Acupuncture Research Center, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Siru Qin
- Acupuncture Research Center, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Yinan Gong
- Acupuncture Research Center, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Hong Wang
- Acu-moxibustion and Tuina Department, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Seiji Shioda
- Peptide Drug Innovation, Global Research Center for Innovative Life Science, Hoshi University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-4-41 Ebara, Shinagawa, Tokyo 142-8501, Japan
| | - Shanshan Li
- Acupuncture Research Center, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Jin Huang
- Acupuncture Research Center, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Baohu Liu
- Department of Rehabilitation, Wangjing Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yuxin Fang
- Acupuncture Research Center, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.,Acu-moxibustion and Tuina Department, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Yangyang Liu
- Acupuncture Research Center, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.,Acu-moxibustion and Tuina Department, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Shenjun Wang
- Acupuncture Research Center, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.,Acu-moxibustion and Tuina Department, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Yongming Guo
- Acupuncture Research Center, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.,Acu-moxibustion and Tuina Department, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Qing Xia
- Acu-moxibustion and Tuina Department, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Yi Guo
- Acupuncture Research Center, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.,College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Zhifang Xu
- Acupuncture Research Center, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.,Acu-moxibustion and Tuina Department, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
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14
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Gao Y, Ma L, Liang F, Zhang Y, Yang L, Liu X, Yang J. The use of amantadine in patients with unresponsive wakefulness syndrome after severe cerebral hemorrhage. Brain Inj 2020; 34:1084-1088. [PMID: 32552090 DOI: 10.1080/02699052.2020.1780315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Amantadine is currently recommended for use in patients of post-traumatic brain injury with unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (UWS). However, the application of amantadine in UWS after cerebral hemorrhage has only been rarely reported. This allows for a further exploration of the role of amantadine in the treatment of UWS resulting from a severe cerebral hemorrhage. METHODS We observed the changes of seven patients with UWS of intracerebral hemorrhage after taking amantadine. We also carried out a detailed neurological examination of the patient with disorders of consciousness to include or exclude subjects for the study. CRS-R score was used to evaluate the neurological recovery. RESULTS An improvement in consciousness was observed within 3-6 days after the start of amantadine administration in all seven cases (n = 7/7; 100%). Five patients recovered conscious and left aphasia, hemiplegia and other sequelae, and two patients recovered from UWS to minimally conscious state (MCS). CONCLUSIONS In this study, amantadine administration showed substantial positive effects on recovery following severe cerebral hemorrhage. We recommend further randomized controlled studies to determine the efficacy of amantadine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Gao
- Department of Hyperbaric Oxygen Medicine, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University , Beijing, China
| | - Linlin Ma
- Department of Hyperbaric Oxygen Medicine, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University , Beijing, China
| | - Fang Liang
- Department of Hyperbaric Oxygen Medicine, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University , Beijing, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Department of Hyperbaric Oxygen Medicine, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University , Beijing, China
| | - Lin Yang
- Department of Hyperbaric Oxygen Medicine, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University , Beijing, China
| | - Xuehua Liu
- Department of Hyperbaric Oxygen Medicine, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University , Beijing, China
| | - Jing Yang
- Department of Hyperbaric Oxygen Medicine, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University , Beijing, China
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15
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Forgacs PB, Devinsky O, Schiff ND. Independent Functional Outcomes after Prolonged Coma following Cardiac Arrest: A Mechanistic Hypothesis. Ann Neurol 2020; 87:618-632. [PMID: 31994749 PMCID: PMC7393600 DOI: 10.1002/ana.25690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2019] [Revised: 01/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Survivors of prolonged (>2 weeks) post-cardiac arrest (CA) coma are expected to remain permanently disabled. We aimed to investigate 3 outlier patients who ultimately achieved independent functional outcomes after prolonged post-CA coma to identify electroencephalographic (EEG) markers of their recovery potential. For validation purposes, we also aimed to evaluate these markers in an independent cohort of post-CA patients. METHODS We identified 3 patients with late recovery from coma (17-37 days) following CA who recovered to functionally independent behavioral levels. We performed spectral power analyses of available EEGs during prominent burst suppression patterns (BSP) present in all 3 patients. Using identical methods, we also assessed the relationship of intraburst spectral power and outcomes in a prospectively enrolled cohort of post-CA patients. We performed chart reviews of common clinical, imaging, and EEG prognostic variables and clinical outcomes for all patients. RESULTS All 3 patients with late recovery from coma lacked evidence of overwhelming cortical injury but demonstrated prominent BSP on EEG. Spectral analyses revealed a prominent theta (~4-7Hz) feature dominating the bursts during BSP in these patients. In the prospective cohort, similar intraburst theta spectral features were evident in patients with favorable outcomes; patients with BSP and unfavorable outcomes showed either no features, transient burst features, or decreasing intraburst frequencies with time. INTERPRETATION BSP with theta (~4-7Hz) peak intraburst spectral power after CA may index a recovery potential. We discuss our results in the context of optimizing metabolic substrate availability and stimulating the corticothalamic system during recovery from prolonged post-CA coma. ANN NEUROL 2020;87:618-632.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter B. Forgacs
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA
- The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | | | - Nicholas D. Schiff
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA
- The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
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Abstract
This comprehensive review discusses clinical studies of patients following brain injuries (traumatic, acquired, or stroke), who have been treated with amantadine or memantine. Both amantadine and memantine are commonly used in the acute rehabilitation setting following brain injuries, despite their lack of FDA-approval for neuro-recovery. Given the broad utilization of such agents, there is a need to review the evidence supporting this common off-label prescribing. The purpose of this review is to describe the mechanisms of action for memantine and amantadine, as well as to complete a comprehensive review of the clinical uses of these agents. We included 119 original, clinical research articles from NCBI Medline, published before 2019. We focused on the domains of neuroplasticity, functional recovery, motor recovery, arousal, fatigue, insomnia, behavior, agitation, and cognition. Most of the existing research supporting the use of amantadine and memantine in recovery from brain injuries was done in very small populations, limiting the significance of conclusions. While most studies are positive; small effect sizes are usually reported, or populations are subject to bias. Furthermore, evidence is so limited that this review includes research regarding both acute and chronic acquired brain injury populations. Fortunately, reported short-term side effects generally are modest, and stop soon after amantadine/memantine is discontinued. However, responses are inconsistent, and the phenotype of responders remains elusive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather M Ma
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Ross D Zafonte
- Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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17
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Thibaut A, Schiff N, Giacino J, Laureys S, Gosseries O. Therapeutic interventions in patients with prolonged disorders of consciousness. Lancet Neurol 2019; 18:600-614. [DOI: 10.1016/s1474-4422(19)30031-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2018] [Revised: 01/10/2019] [Accepted: 01/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Very few options exist for patients who survive severe traumatic brain injury but fail to fully recover and develop a disorder of consciousness (e.g. vegetative state, minimally conscious state). RECENT FINDINGS Among pharmacological approaches, Amantadine has shown the ability to accelerate functional recovery. Although with very low frequency, Zolpidem has shown the ability to improve the level of consciousness transiently and, possibly, also in a sustained fashion. Among neuromodulatory approaches, transcranial direct current stimulation has been shown to transiently improve behavioral responsiveness, but mostly in minimally conscious patients. New evidence for thalamic deep brain stimulation calls into question its cost/benefit trade-off. SUMMARY The growing understanding of the biology of disorders of consciousness has led to a renaissance in the development of therapeutic interventions for patients with disorders of consciousness. High-quality evidence is emerging for pharmacological (i.e. Amantadine) and neurostimulatory (i.e. transcranial direct current stimulation) interventions, although further studies are needed to delineate preconditions, optimal dosages, and timing of administration. Other exciting new approaches (e.g. low intensity focused ultrasound) still await systematic assessment. A crucial future direction should be the use of neuroimaging measures of functional and structural impairment as a means of tailoring patient-specific interventions.
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Effects on the diagnosis change and on the disability level for individuals with disorder of consciousness: which predictors? Int Clin Psychopharmacol 2018; 33:163-171. [PMID: 29489493 DOI: 10.1097/yic.0000000000000214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Prediction of the functional recovery in patients with disorders of consciousness (DOC) is still complex because of the different numbers of variables that influence the possibility of observing changes in clinical outcome. The aim of the present study is to identify the best set of predictors of the change in DOC diagnosis among different pharmacotherapy and nonpharmacotherapy indicators. This study analyzed data collected in a longitudinal, two-evaluation, multicenter project conducted in 90 centers. We analyzed the predictor effects of physical and cognitive treatments, duration of disease, etiology, age, and sex (nonpharmacological treatments) as well as the use of antiparkinson, psycholeptic, psychoanaleptic, and muscle-relaxant drugs (pharmacological variables). Ordered logistic models, linear regression models with bootstrap estimation, and model averaging procedures were used. The results showed that physical and cognitive treatments [best predictor: odds ratio (OR)=413.3, P<0.001], age (OR=0.964, P<0.001), and use of psycholeptic drugs (negative effect: OR=0.373, P=0.039) were the variables that contributed in general toward a change in diagnosis. Notably, the use of psycholeptic drugs seemed to impede the functional recovery in patients with DOC, so serious reflections on its use will be made.
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Gosseries O, Pistoia F, Charland-Verville V, Carolei A, Sacco S, Laureys S. The Role of Neuroimaging Techniques in Establishing Diagnosis, Prognosis and Therapy in Disorders of Consciousness. Open Neuroimag J 2016; 10:52-68. [PMID: 27347265 PMCID: PMC4894918 DOI: 10.2174/1874440001610010052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2016] [Revised: 04/06/2016] [Accepted: 04/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-communicative brain damaged patients raise important clinical and scientific issues. Here, we review three major pathological disorders of consciousness: coma, the unresponsive wakefulness syndrome and the minimally conscious state. A number of clinical studies highlight the difficulty in making a correct diagnosis in patients with disorders of consciousness based only on behavioral examinations. The increasing use of neuroimaging techniques allows improving clinical characterization of these patients. Recent neuroimaging studies using positron emission tomography, functional magnetic resonance imaging, electroencephalography and transcranial magnetic stimulation can help assess diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic treatment. These techniques, using resting state, passive and active paradigms, also highlight possible dissociations between consciousness and responsiveness, and are facilitating a more accurate understanding of brain function in this challenging population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia Gosseries
- Coma Science Group, GIGA, University of Liege, Liege, Belgium; Department of Psychology and Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United-States
| | - Francesca Pistoia
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, Neurological Institute, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | | | - Antonio Carolei
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, Neurological Institute, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Simona Sacco
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, Neurological Institute, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Steven Laureys
- Coma Science Group, GIGA, University of Liege, Liege, Belgium
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Estraneo A, Pascarella A, Moretta P, Loreto V, Trojano L. Clinical and electroencephalographic on–off effect of amantadine in chronic non-traumatic minimally conscious state. J Neurol 2015; 262:1584-6. [DOI: 10.1007/s00415-015-7771-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2015] [Revised: 04/27/2015] [Accepted: 04/28/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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22
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Rosenbaum AM, Giacino JT. Clinical management of the minimally conscious state. HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2015; 127:395-410. [PMID: 25702230 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-444-52892-6.00025-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The minimally conscious state (MCS) was defined as a disorder of consciousness (DoC) distinct from the vegetative state more than a decade ago. While this condition has become widely recognized, there are still no guidelines to steer the approach to assessment and treatment. The development of evidence-based practice guidelines for MCS has been hampered by ambiguity around the concept of consciousness, the lack of accurate methods of assessment, and the dearth of well-designed clinical trials. This chapter provides a critical review of existing assessment procedures, critically reviews available treatment options and identifies knowledge gaps. We close with practice-based recommendations for a rational approach to clinical management of this challenging population.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Joseph T Giacino
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School and Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
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Chatelle C, Thibaut A, Gosseries O, Bruno MA, Demertzi A, Bernard C, Hustinx R, Tshibanda L, Bahri MA, Laureys S. Changes in cerebral metabolism in patients with a minimally conscious state responding to zolpidem. Front Hum Neurosci 2014; 8:917. [PMID: 25520636 PMCID: PMC4251320 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2014.00917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2014] [Accepted: 10/27/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Zolpidem, a short-acting non-benzodiazepine GABA agonist hypnotic, has been shown to induce paradoxical responses in some patients with disorders of consciousness (DOC), leading to recovery of arousal and cognitive abilities. We here assessed zolpidem-induced changes in regional brain metabolism in three patients with known zolpidem response in chronic post-anoxic minimally conscious state (MCS). Methods: [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) and standardized clinical assessments using the Coma Recovery Scale-Revised were performed after administration of 10 mg zolpidem or placebo in a randomized double blind 2-day protocol. PET data preprocessing and comparison with a healthy age-matched control group were performed using statistical parametric mapping (SPM8). Results: Behaviorally, all patients recovered functional communication after administration of zolpidem (i.e., emergence from the MCS). FDG-PET showed increased metabolism in dorsolateral prefrontal and mesiofrontal cortices after zolpidem but not after placebo administration. Conclusion: Our data show a metabolic activation of prefrontal areas, corroborating the proposed mesocircuit hypothesis to explain the paradoxical effect of zolpidem observed in some patients with DOC. It also suggests the key role of the prefrontal cortices in the recovery of functional communication and object use in hypoxic patients with chronic MCS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Chatelle
- Coma Science Group, Cyclotron Research Centre, University and University Hospital of Liège Liège, Belgium ; Neurorehabilitation Lab, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Harvard Medical School Boston, MA, USA
| | - Aurore Thibaut
- Coma Science Group, Cyclotron Research Centre, University and University Hospital of Liège Liège, Belgium
| | - Olivia Gosseries
- Coma Science Group, Cyclotron Research Centre, University and University Hospital of Liège Liège, Belgium ; Center for Sleep and Consciousness, and Postle Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin Madison, WI, USA
| | - Marie-Aurélie Bruno
- Coma Science Group, Cyclotron Research Centre, University and University Hospital of Liège Liège, Belgium
| | - Athena Demertzi
- Coma Science Group, Cyclotron Research Centre, University and University Hospital of Liège Liège, Belgium
| | - Claire Bernard
- Nuclear Medicine Department, University Hospital of Liège Liège, Belgium
| | - Roland Hustinx
- Nuclear Medicine Department, University Hospital of Liège Liège, Belgium
| | - Luaba Tshibanda
- Department of Neuroradiology, University Hospital of Liège Liège, Belgium
| | - Mohamed A Bahri
- Coma Science Group, Cyclotron Research Centre, University and University Hospital of Liège Liège, Belgium
| | - Steven Laureys
- Coma Science Group, Cyclotron Research Centre, University and University Hospital of Liège Liège, Belgium
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Ciurleo R, Bramanti P, Calabrò RS. Pharmacotherapy for disorders of consciousness: are 'awakening' drugs really a possibility? Drugs 2014; 73:1849-62. [PMID: 24170667 DOI: 10.1007/s40265-013-0138-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Disorders of consciousness, including the coma state, vegetative state and minimally conscious state, are among the least understood and least curable conditions in modern neurology. Structural or functional injuries may produce impairments in the neuronal circuits (the ascending reticular activating system and thalamocortical loops) responsible for maintaining the wakefulness state and awareness, associated with a change in neurotransmitter concentrations. Pharmacological agents that are able to restore the levels of neurotransmitters and, consequently, neural synaptic plasticity and functional connectivity of consciousness networks, may play an important role as drugs useful in improving the consciousness state. Currently, there is growing interest in the scientific community with regard to pharmacological agents that act on the gamma amino-butyric acid (GABA) system, such as zolpidem and baclofen, and monoamine systems, such as dopaminergic agents and some antidepressants. The purpose of this article is to provide a comprehensive overview of these potential 'awakening' drugs in patients with disorders of consciousness. The possible mechanisms by which these drugs may exert their effects in promoting recovery of consciousness are discussed, highlighting how many findings are often the result of sporadic events rather than prospective controlled trials or implementation of standard treatment guidelines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosella Ciurleo
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo", Via Palermo S.S. 113, C.da Casazza, 98124, Messina, Italy,
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25
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Avecillas-Chasín JM, Barcia JA. Effect of amantadine in minimally conscious state of non-traumatic etiology. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2014; 156:1375-7. [PMID: 24752722 DOI: 10.1007/s00701-014-2077-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2014] [Accepted: 03/19/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Josue M Avecillas-Chasín
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Prof. Martín Lagos s/n, 28040, Madrid, Spain,
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Abstract
Significant advances have been made in the behavioral assessment and clinical management of disorders of consciousness (DOC). In addition, functional neuroimaging paradigms are now available to help assess consciousness levels in this challenging patient population. The success of these neuroimaging approaches as diagnostic markers is, however, intrinsically linked to understanding the relationships between consciousness and the brain. In this context, a combined theoretical approach to neuroimaging studies is needed. The promise of such theoretically based markers is illustrated by recent findings that used a perturbational approach to assess the levels of consciousness. Further research on the contents of consciousness in DOC is also needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia Gosseries
- Coma Science Group, Cyclotron Research Center and Neurology Department, University of Liege, and University Hospital of Liege, 4000 Liege, Belgium; , , ,
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27
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Lancioni GE, Bosco A, Olivetti Belardinelli M, Singh NN, O'Reilly MF, Sigafoos J, Oliva D. Technology-based intervention programs to promote stimulation control and communication in post-coma persons with different levels of disability. Front Hum Neurosci 2014; 8:48. [PMID: 24574992 PMCID: PMC3920651 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2014.00048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2013] [Accepted: 01/21/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Post-coma persons in a minimally conscious state and with extensive motor impairment or emerging/emerged from such a state, but affected by lack of speech and motor impairment, tend to be passive and isolated. A way to help them develop functional responding to control environmental events and communication involves the use of intervention programs relying on assistive technology. This paper provides an overview of technology-based intervention programs for enabling the participants to (a) access brief periods of stimulation through one or two microswitches, (b) pursue stimulation and social contact through the combination of a microswitch and a sensor connected to a speech generating device (SGD) or through two SGD-related sensors, (c) control stimulation options through computer or radio systems and a microswitch, (d) communicate through modified messaging or telephone systems operated via microswitch, and (e) control combinations of leisure and communication options through computer systems operated via microswitch. Twenty-six studies, involving a total of 52 participants, were included in this paper. The intervention programs were carried out using single-subject methodology, and their outcomes were generally considered positive from the standpoint of the participants and their context. Practical implications of the programs are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulio E Lancioni
- Department of Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari Bari, Italy
| | - Andrea Bosco
- Department of Educational Science, Psychology, Communication, University of Bari Bari, Italy
| | | | - Nirbhay N Singh
- Department of Psychiatry and Health Behavior, Medical College of Georgia, Georgia Regents University Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Mark F O'Reilly
- Department of Special Education, University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX, USA
| | - Jeff Sigafoos
- Department of Educational Psychology, Victoria University of Wellington Wellington, New Zealand
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Vogel D, Markl A, Yu T, Kotchoubey B, Lang S, Müller F. Can Mental Imagery Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Predict Recovery in Patients With Disorders of Consciousness? Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2013; 94:1891-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.apmr.2012.11.053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2012] [Revised: 11/20/2012] [Accepted: 11/26/2012] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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Leonardi M, Sattin D, Raggi A. An Italian population study on 600 persons in vegetative state and minimally conscious state. Brain Inj 2013; 27:473-84. [DOI: 10.3109/02699052.2012.750758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
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30
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Abstract
Objectives: To summarise available evidence for responsiveness of six key assessments used with patients with disorders of consciousness: Coma Recovery Scale – Revised (CRS-R), Disorders Of Consciousness Scale (DOCS), Sensory Modality Assessment and Rehabilitation Technique (SMART), Sensory Stimulation Assessment Measure (SSAM), Wessex Head Injury Matrix (WHIM), and the Western Neuro Sensory Stimulation Profile (WNSSP).Method: A literature search of five electronic databases was conducted using a systematic search strategy. Relevant literature was evaluated and pertinent information extracted.Results: Database searches using key terms initially yielded 132 articles. Following review for inclusion identified 24 articles. No studies were specifically designed to investigate responsiveness of any of the measures and therefore responsiveness data were either based on statistical significance of change post-treatment or descriptive analysis of change scores. The majority of studies identified used the CRS-R (n= 11), WHIM (n= 5) and WNSSP (n= 6) and have established responsiveness to change. There is some preliminary evidence for the responsiveness of the other measures, based on very few available studies: DOCS (n= 2), SMART (n= 1) or SSAM (n= 1).Conclusion: Future studies should seek to include responsiveness analysis, particularly in relation to the DOCS, SMART and SSAM.
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31
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Treatment of Disorders of Consciousness in the Veterans Health Administration Polytrauma Centers. J Head Trauma Rehabil 2012; 27:244-52. [DOI: 10.1097/htr.0b013e31825e12c8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Laureys S, Schiff ND. Coma and consciousness: Paradigms (re)framed by neuroimaging. Neuroimage 2012; 61:478-91. [PMID: 22227888 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2011.12.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 227] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2011] [Accepted: 12/15/2011] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Steven Laureys
- Coma Science Group, Cyclotron Research Centre and Neurology Department, University and University Hospital of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium.
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33
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The vegetative and minimally conscious states: a review of the literature and preliminary survey of prevalence in Ireland. Ir J Med Sci 2012; 182:7-15. [PMID: 22528253 DOI: 10.1007/s11845-012-0825-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2011] [Accepted: 04/09/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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Giacino JT, Whyte J, Bagiella E, Kalmar K, Childs N, Khademi A, Eifert B, Long D, Katz DI, Cho S, Yablon SA, Luther M, Hammond FM, Nordenbo A, Novak P, Mercer W, Maurer-Karattup P, Sherer M. Placebo-controlled trial of amantadine for severe traumatic brain injury. N Engl J Med 2012; 366:819-26. [PMID: 22375973 DOI: 10.1056/nejmoa1102609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 448] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Amantadine hydrochloride is one of the most commonly prescribed medications for patients with prolonged disorders of consciousness after traumatic brain injury. Preliminary studies have suggested that amantadine may promote functional recovery. METHODS We enrolled 184 patients who were in a vegetative or minimally conscious state 4 to 16 weeks after traumatic brain injury and who were receiving inpatient rehabilitation. Patients were randomly assigned to receive amantadine or placebo for 4 weeks and were followed for 2 weeks after the treatment was discontinued. The rate of functional recovery on the Disability Rating Scale (DRS; range, 0 to 29, with higher scores indicating greater disability) was compared over the 4 weeks of treatment (primary outcome) and during the 2-week washout period with the use of mixed-effects regression models. RESULTS During the 4-week treatment period, recovery was significantly faster in the amantadine group than in the placebo group, as measured by the DRS score (difference in slope, 0.24 points per week; P=0.007), indicating a benefit with respect to the primary outcome measure. In a prespecified subgroup analysis, the treatment effect was similar for patients in a vegetative state and those in a minimally conscious state. The rate of improvement in the amantadine group slowed during the 2 weeks after treatment (weeks 5 and 6) and was significantly slower than the rate in the placebo group (difference in slope, 0.30 points per week; P=0.02). The overall improvement in DRS scores between baseline and week 6 (2 weeks after treatment was discontinued) was similar in the two groups. There were no significant differences in the incidence of serious adverse events. CONCLUSIONS Amantadine accelerated the pace of functional recovery during active treatment in patients with post-traumatic disorders of consciousness. (Funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00970944.).
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What is the role of brain mechanisms underlying arousal in recovery of motor function after structural brain injuries? Curr Opin Neurol 2012; 24:564-9. [PMID: 22002078 DOI: 10.1097/wco.0b013e32834cd4f5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Standard neurorehabilitation approaches have limited impact on motor recovery in patients with severe brain injuries. Consideration of the contributions of impaired arousal offers a novel approach to understand and enhance recovery. RECENT FINDINGS Animal and human neuroimaging studies are elucidating the neuroanatomical bases of arousal and of arousal regulation, the process by which the cerebrum mobilizes resources. Studies of patients with disorders of consciousness have revealed that recovery of these processes is associated with marked improvements in motor performance. Recent studies have also demonstrated that patients with less severe brain injuries also have impaired arousal, manifesting as diminished sustained attention, fatigue, and apathy. In these less severely injured patients, it is difficult to connect disorders of arousal with motor recovery because of a lack of measures of arousal that are independent of motor function. SUMMARY Arousal impairment is common after brain injury and likely plays a significant role in recovery of motor function. A more detailed understanding of this connection will help to develop new therapeutic strategies applicable for a wide range of patients. This requires new tools that continuously and objectively measure arousal in patients with brain injury, to correlate with detailed measures of motor performance and recovery.
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36
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37
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Assessment of consciousness with electrophysiological and neurological imaging techniques. Curr Opin Crit Care 2011; 17:146-51. [PMID: 21206267 DOI: 10.1097/mcc.0b013e328343476d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Brain MRI (diffusion tensor imaging and spectroscopy) and functional neuroimaging (PET, functional MRI, EEG and evoked potential studies) are changing our understanding of patients with disorders of consciousness encountered after coma such as the 'vegetative' or minimally conscious states. RECENT FINDINGS Increasing evidence from functional neuroimaging and electrophysiology demonstrates some residual cognitive processing in a subgroup of patients who clinically fail to show any response to commands, leading to the recent proposal of 'unresponsive wakefulness syndrome' as an alternative name for patients previously coined 'vegetative' or 'apallic'. SUMMARY Consciousness can be viewed as the emergent property of the collective behavior of widespread thalamocortical frontoparietal network connectivity. Data from physiological, pharmacological and pathological alterations of consciousness provide evidence in favor of this hypothesis. Increasing our understanding of the neural correlates of consciousness is helping clinicians to do a better job in terms of diagnosis, prognosis and finally treatment and drug development for these severely brain-damaged patients. The current challenge remains to continue translating this research from the bench to the bedside. Only well controlled large multicentric neuroimaging and electrophysiology studies will enable to identify which paraclinical diagnostic or prognostic test is necessary for our routine evidence-based assessment of individuals with disorders of consciousness.
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Gosseries O, Vanhaudenhuyse A, Bruno MA, Demertzi A, Schnakers C, Boly MM, Maudoux A, Moonen G, Laureys S. Disorders of Consciousness: Coma, Vegetative and Minimally Conscious States. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-18047-7_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
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Oliveira L, Fregni F. Pharmacological and electrical stimulation in chronic disorders of consciousness: New insights and future directions. Brain Inj 2011; 25:315-27. [DOI: 10.3109/02699052.2011.556103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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40
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Demertzi A, Schnakers C, Soddu A, Bruno MA, Gosseries O, Vanhaudenhuyse A, Laureys S. Neural plasticity lessons from disorders of consciousness. Front Psychol 2011; 1:245. [PMID: 21833298 PMCID: PMC3153849 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2010.00245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2010] [Accepted: 12/24/2010] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Communication and intentional behavior are supported by the brain's integrity at a structural and a functional level. When widespread loss of cerebral connectivity is brought about as a result of a severe brain injury, in many cases patients are not capable of conscious interactive behavior and are said to suffer from disorders of consciousness (e.g., coma, vegetative state/unresponsive wakefulness syndrome, minimally conscious states). This lesion paradigm has offered not only clinical insights, as how to improve diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment, but also put forward scientific opportunities to study the brain's plastic abilities. We here review interventional and observational studies performed in severely brain-injured patients with regards to recovery of consciousness. The study of the recovered conscious brain (spontaneous and/or after surgical or pharmacologic interventions), suggests a link between some specific brain areas and the capacity of the brain to sustain conscious experience, challenging at the same time the notion of fixed temporal boundaries in rehabilitative processes. Altered functional connectivity, cerebral structural reorganization as well as behavioral amelioration after invasive treatments will be discussed as the main indices for plasticity in these challenging patients. The study of patients with chronic disorders of consciousness may, thus, provide further insights not only at a clinical level (i.e., medical management and rehabilitation) but also from a scientific-theoretical perspective (i.e., the brain's plastic abilities and the pursuit of the neural correlate of consciousness).
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Affiliation(s)
- Athena Demertzi
- Coma Science Group, Cyclotron Research Centre and Neurology Department, Sart Tilman, University and University Hospital of Liège Liège, Belgium
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Wilde EA, Whiteneck GG, Bogner J, Bushnik T, Cifu DX, Dikmen S, French L, Giacino JT, Hart T, Malec JF, Millis SR, Novack TA, Sherer M, Tulsky DS, Vanderploeg RD, von Steinbuechel N. Recommendations for the use of common outcome measures in traumatic brain injury research. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2010; 91:1650-1660.e17. [PMID: 21044708 DOI: 10.1016/j.apmr.2010.06.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 319] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2010] [Revised: 06/09/2010] [Accepted: 06/11/2010] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
This article summarizes the selection of outcome measures by the interagency Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Outcomes Workgroup to address primary clinical research objectives, including documentation of the natural course of recovery from TBI, prediction of later outcome, measurement of treatment effects, and comparison of outcomes across studies. Consistent with other Common Data Elements Workgroups, the TBI Outcomes Workgroup adopted the standard 3-tier system in its selection of measures. In the first tier, core measures included valid, robust, and widely applicable outcome measures with proven utility in TBI from each identified domain, including global level of function, neuropsychological impairment, psychological status, TBI-related symptoms, executive functions, cognitive and physical activity limitations, social role participation, and perceived health-related quality of life. In the second tier, supplemental measures were recommended for consideration in TBI research focusing on specific topics or populations. In the third tier, emerging measures included important instruments currently under development, in the process of validation, or nearing the point of published findings that have significant potential to be superior to some older ("legacy") measures in the core and supplemental lists and may eventually replace them as evidence for their utility emerges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth A Wilde
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
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Lancioni GE, Bosco A, Belardinelli MO, Singh NN, O'Reilly MF, Sigafoos J. An overview of intervention options for promoting adaptive behavior of persons with acquired brain injury and minimally conscious state. RESEARCH IN DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES 2010; 31:1121-1134. [PMID: 20663643 DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2010.06.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2010] [Accepted: 06/22/2010] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
This paper presents an overview of the studies directed at helping post-coma persons with minimally conscious state improve their adaptive behavior. Twenty-one studies were identified for the 2000-2010 period (i.e., a period in which an intense debate has occurred about diagnostic, rehabilitative, prognostic, and ethical issues concerning people with severe acquired brain injury). Three of the 21 studies involved transcortical magnetic or deep brain stimulation. Six studies focused on the provision of multisensory stimulation or music therapy. The remaining 12 studies involved the use of response-related (contingent) stimulation and assistive technology. The outcomes of the studies, which were generally reported as positive, were discussed in terms of (a) the size (quantitative relevance) of the changes obtained, (b) the credibility/reliability of the changes, in light of the methodological conditions of the studies, and (c) the level of engagement and interaction involvement of the participants. Relevant issues for future research were also examined.
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Pistoia F, Mura E, Govoni S, Fini M, Sarà M. Awakenings and awareness recovery in disorders of consciousness: is there a role for drugs? CNS Drugs 2010; 24:625-38. [PMID: 20658796 DOI: 10.2165/11535940-000000000-00000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Disorders of consciousness (DOC) include coma, vegetative state (VS) and minimally conscious state (MCS). Coma is a condition of unarousability with a complete absence of wakefulness and awareness, whereas VS is characterized by a lack of awareness despite a preserved wakefulness. Patients in coma are unconscious because they lack both wakefulness and awareness. Patients in a VS are unconscious because, although they are wakeful, they lack awareness. Patients in a MCS show minimal but definite behavioural evidence of self and environmental awareness. Coma results from diffuse bilateral hemispheric lesions or selective damage to the ascending reticular system (which is functionally connected to the cerebral cortex by intralaminar thalamic nuclei). VS is a syndrome that is considered to be the result of a disconnection of different cortical networks rather than a dysfunction of a single area or a global reduction in cortical metabolism. As revealed by functional imaging studies, clinical recovery is often associated with a functional restoration of cortico-thalamo-cortical connections. Depending on the amount of network restored, patients may regain full consciousness or remain in a MCS. Molecular and neural mediators may indirectly contribute to the above restoration processes owing to their role in the phenomenon of neural synaptic plasticity. Therefore, there is growing interest in the possible effects of drugs that act at the level of the CNS in promoting emergence from DOC. Sporadic cases of dramatic recovery from DOC after the administration of various pharmacological agents, such as baclofen, zolpidem and amantadine, have been recently supported by intriguing scientific observations. Analysis of the reported cases of recovery, with particular attention paid to the condition of the patients and to the association of their improvement with the start of drug administration, suggests that these treatments might have promoted the clinical improvement of some patients. These drugs are from various and diverging classes, but can be grouped into two main categories, CNS stimulants and CNS depressants. Some of these treatments seem to directly encourage a consciousness restoration, while others play a more determinant role in improving cognitive domains, especially in patients with residual cognitive impairment, than in the field of consciousness. Given the great interest recently generated in the scientific community by the increasing number of papers addressing this issue, further investigation of the above treatments, with particular attention paid to their mechanisms of action, the neurotransmitters involved and their effects on cortico-thalamo-cortical circuitry, is needed.
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Sarà M, Pistoia F. Defining Consciousness: Lessons from Patients and Modern Techniques. J Neurotrauma 2010. [DOI: 10.1089/neu.2008.0804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Marco Sarà
- Istituto San Raffaele, Post-Coma Intensive and Rehabilitation Care Unit, Cassino, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Francesca Pistoia
- Istituto San Raffaele, Post-Coma Intensive and Rehabilitation Care Unit, Cassino, L'Aquila, Italy
- Department of Internal Medicine and Public Health, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
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Demertzi A, Vanhaudenhuyse A, Bruno MA, Schnakers C, Boly M, Boveroux P, Maquet P, Moonen G, Laureys S. Is there anybody in there? Detecting awareness in disorders of consciousness. Expert Rev Neurother 2009; 8:1719-30. [PMID: 18986242 DOI: 10.1586/14737175.8.11.1719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The bedside detection of awareness in disorders of consciousness (DOC) caused by acquired brain injury is not an easy task. For this reason, differential diagnosis using neuroimaging and electrophysiological tools in search for objective markers of consciousness is being employed. However, such tools cannot be considered as diagnostic per se, but as assistants to the clinical evaluation, which, at present, remains the gold standard. Regarding therapeutic management in DOC, no evidence-based recommendations can be made in favor of a specific treatment. The present review summarizes clinical and paraclinical studies that have been conducted with neuroimaging and electrophysiological techniques in search of residual awareness in DOC. We discuss the medical, scientific and ethical implications that derive from these studies and we argue that, in the future, the role of neuroimaging and electrophysiology will be important not only for the diagnosis and prognosis of DOC but also in establishing communication with these challenging patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Athena Demertzi
- Coma Science Group, Neurology Department, Cyclotron Research Centre, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
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46
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Abstract
In the past ten years, rapid technological developments in the field of neuroimaging have produced a cornucopia of new techniques for examining both the structure and function of the human brain in vivo. In specialized centers, many of these methods are now being employed routinely in the assessment of patients diagnosed with disorders of consciousness, mapping patterns of residual function and dysfunction and helping to reduce diagnostic errors between related conditions such as the vegetative and minimally conscious states. Moreover, such efforts are beginning to provide important new prognostic indicators, helping to disentangle differences in outcome on the basis of a greater understanding of the underlying mechanisms responsible and providing information that will undoubtedly contribute to improved therapeutic choices in these challenging populations. Of course, these emerging technologies and the new information that they provide will bring new ethical challenges to this area and will have profound implications for clinical care and medical-legal decision-making in this population of patients. We review the most recent work in this area and suggest that the future integration of emerging neuroimaging techniques with existing clinical and behavioral methods of assessment will pave the way for new and innovative applications, both in basic neuroscience and in clinical practice.
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Fins JJ, Illes J, Bernat JL, Hirsch J, Laureys S, Murphy E. Neuroimaging and disorders of consciousness: envisioning an ethical research agenda. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOETHICS : AJOB 2008; 8:3-12. [PMID: 18853371 DOI: 10.1080/15265160802318113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
The application of neuroimaging technology to the study of the injured brain has transformed how neuroscientists understand disorders of consciousness, such as the vegetative and minimally conscious states, and deepened our understanding of mechanisms of recovery. This scientific progress, and its potential clinical translation, provides an opportunity for ethical reflection. It was against this scientific backdrop that we convened a conference of leading investigators in neuroimaging, disorders of consciousness and neuroethics. Our goal was to develop an ethical frame to move these investigative techniques into mature clinical tools. This paper presents the recommendations and analysis of a Working Meeting on Ethics, Neuroimaging and Limited States of Consciousness held at Stanford University during June 2007. It represents an interdisciplinary approach to the challenges posed by the emerging use of neuroimaging technologies to describe and characterize disorders of consciousness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph J Fins
- Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY 10021, USA.
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