Vascular inflammation underlies the development of atherothrombotic stroke

Author:

A.V. ROMANENKO, I.P. AMELINA, E.YU. SOLOVYEVA
Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russia

Summary:
Atherothrombotic stroke is the one of the most common subtypes of ischemic cerebral circulatory disorders, the cause of which is atherosclerosis of the major arteries of the brain or their branches. The results of recent studies have shown that the atherosclerotic process is based on an inflammatory process in the vascular wall that leads to the initiation of atherosclerosis, endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and the redistribution of various protein components in the blood-brain barrier. As a result, the progression of the described conditions leads to the manifestation of clinical symptoms and the formation of an acute vascular event. Understanding of the molecular components underlying functional disorders and damages of the cerebral vessels gives the key to modern therapy strategies. It is forming the foundation for the adequate, pathogenetically reasonable drug correction. For such patients, it should be aimed at the normalization of cerebral and central hemodynamics and incorporate the mechanisms of neuroplasticity. The drug 2-ethyl-6-methyl-3-oxypyridine-succinate (mexidol) can be considered as one of the pathogenetically justified agents in complex drug therapy of brain ischemia. Keywords: ischemic stroke, atherosclerosis, vascular inflammation, oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction, ethylmethylhydroxypyridine succinate.


Efficacy and safety of ethylmethylhydroxypyridine succinate in patients with ischemic stroke

Author:

M.V. ZHURAVLEVA1,2, I.A. SHCHUKIN3, M.S. FIDLER3, A.B. PROKOFIEV2, S.YU. SEREBROVA2, N.S. VASYUKOVA4, E.YU. DEMCHENKOVA1, V.V. ARKHIPOV1,2
1Research Centre for Examination of Medical Devices, Moscow, Russia;
2Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russia;
3Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russia;
4Federal Scientific Center — All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Experimental Veterinary Medicine named after K.I. Skryabin and Ya.R. Kovalenko, Moscow, Russia

Summary:
Stroke is still the most significant problem of the modern medicine and the leading cause of mortality and morbidity. There is the great experience of neuroprotection in patients with stroke in the Russian Federation. In clinical practice it’s important to follow conditions, where neuroprotection will have maximum safety and effectiveness. The clinical trials of ethylmethylhydroxypyridine succinate (mexidol) in patients with acute ischemic stroke are described in the present review. Early management (in the first 6 hours) with mexidol significantly improve recovery dynamic and stroke outcome. Therapy with mexidol increases neurological recovery, improves vital activity and quality of life of patients with stroke. Furthermore, mexidol demonstrates high safety profile. Keywords: ischemic stroke, thrombolytic therapy, clinical trial, disability, antioxidant system, ethylmethylhydroxypyridine succinate, Mexidol.


Efficacy and safety of Mexidol across age groups in the acute and early recovery stages of hemispheric ischemic stroke (results of additional sub-analysis of a randomized double blind multicenter placebo-controlled study, in parallel groups trial EPICA)

Author:

L.V. STAKHOVSKAYA1, E.A. MKHITARYAN2, O.N. TKACHEVA1,2, T.M. OSTROUMOVA3, O.D. OSTROUMOVA3,4

1Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russia;
2Russian Clinical and Research Center of Gerontology of Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russia;
3Federal State Autonomous Educational Institution of Higher Education I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical (Sechenov University),
Moscow, Russia;
4Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education, Moscow, Russia

Summary:
Aim. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of prolonged sequential therapy with mexidol in the acute and early recovery stages of hemispheric ischemic stroke (IS) across age groups according to the World Health Organization classification. Material and methods. The study is an additional analysis across age groups among patients participated in the randomized double blind multicenter placebo-controlled, in parallel groups trial EPICA. All subjects (62 men and 88 women) were subdivided into age groups: younger than 60 years, 60—65 years, 76—90 years. Additionally, all participants were divided into 2 populations: ITT (Intent to treat population, patients who received at least one treatment/placebo dose) and PP (Per protocol population, patients who received treatment per study protocol). Results of Modified Rankin scale (mRs) at the end of treatment period, Barthel index, Beck depression inventory, European Quality of Life Questionnaire were assessed. Results. The efficacy of mexidol assessed with all the scales did not differ depending on the age group. By the end of treatment, the mean mRS score was lower in the 76-90 years subgroup (in both populations), compared to placebo (p<0,001). The decrease in mean mRS score (Visit 1—5) was more prominent in patients aged 60—65 years (p=0,025), including patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). Patients aged 76—90 years and patients with DM, compared to placebo, had a decrease of the severity of cognitive-affective depression symptoms (p=0,049 and p=0,02) and an increase in patients without problems with everyday activities (p=0,007 and p=0,02). Patients with DM, compared to placebo, also had the higher levels of everyday activity (p=0,023) and quality of life (p=0,045). There were no statistically significant differences in the frequency of side-effects in patients of all groups. Conclusion. It is recommended to include mexidol in therapy of patients with IS in the acute and early rehabilitation stages in all age groups, including patients with DM. Keywords: ischemic stroke, mexidol, ethylmethylhydroxypyridine succinate, efficacy and safety, ischemic stroke, acute period, acute rehabilitation period, EPICA.


Efficacy and safety of the drug Mexidol forte 250 as part of long-term sequential therapy in patients with carotid stroke

Author:
I.A. STRELNIKOVA1, A.A. SVETKINA1,2, O.V. ANDROFAGINA1

1 Samara Regional Clinical Hospital named after V.D. Seredavina, Samara, Russia;

2 Samara State Medical University, Samara, Russia

Summary:
Objective. To evaluate an effect of long-term sequential therapy with mexidol and mexidol forte on the functional outcome of patients with carotid ischemic stroke. Material and methods. The study included 50 patients with newly developed carotid stroke, hospitalized in the stroke unit on the first day from the onset of the disease. Patients of the main group (n=25) received mexidol in a dose of 500 mg intravenously once a day for 14 days, then mexidol forte 250 in tabs 250 mg 3 times a day for 60 days. Patients of the comparison group (n=25) received standard basic therapy. The significance of intergroup differences was assessed using the Mann—Whitney test, Fisher’s exact test, and relative risk (OR) calculation. Differences were considered significant at a level of p<0,05. Results. After 14 days of therapy, both groups of patients showed a positive trend compared to baseline. At the same time, patients of the mexidol group had a higher MoCA score (U=173,5, p=0,006), a lower score when performing tasks on dynamic praxis (U=214,0, p=0,028) and optical spatial disturbances (U=170,5, p=0,003), better memorization strength (181,5, p = 0,006) and better performance on abstraction MOCA subtest (U=200,5, p=0,014). By the 74th day, the absence of moderate cognitive impairment (MoCA> 26 points) was diagnosed in 17 patients (68%) of the main group and 14 patients (56%) of the comparison group. No significant differences were found. Moreover, patients of the main group had a significantly lower NIHSS score (U=124,0, p<0,001) and a lower degree of disability: a total mRS score 0—2 was achieved in 19 (76%) patients of the main group and only in 12 (48%) patients of the comparison group (OR=3,34, F=0,07, p<0,05). Also, patients receiving long-term sequential therapy with mexidol and mexidol forte 250 had milder spatial disorders than patients of the comparison group. Conclusion. Consecutive treatment with mexidol and mexidol forte 250 in the acute and early recovery periods of ischemic stroke positively affects the regression of local neurological symptoms, increases the likelihood of achieving independence in everyday life by 3,34 times, and reduces the severity of optical-spatial, neurodynamic and memory impairments.
Keywords: ischemic stroke, mexidol, mexidol forte 250, cognitive impairment, functional outcome.