Does Cerebrolysin work?
Partly: some human trials, with gaps. Trials are small and many were paid for by the maker.
For the stroke-recovery use there are randomized placebo-controlled trials, but they point in different directions. A Cochrane review pooled six RCTs with 1,501 participants and found no reduction in deaths and more non-fatal serious adverse events; the CARS trial (208 patients) and the two CAPTAIN trials in brain injury (185 patients pooled) reported modest functional benefits. Several trials were manufacturer-supported and had high risk of bias, so the grade stops at B. 362
The 2017 Cochrane review looked at Cerebrolysin for acute ischaemic stroke. It found six randomized trials with 1,501 participants. Deaths were 46 of 714 on Cerebrolysin and 47 of 703 on placebo. That is no difference. Non-fatal serious adverse events were more common with Cerebrolysin (20 of 667 versus 8 of 668). The reviewers judged the risk of bias high for attrition in five trials. They judged it high for selective reporting in four. The manufacturer supported three of the trials. The review has since been updated. 34
The CARS trial randomized 208 stroke patients. They got Cerebrolysin or placebo, plus rehab. It reported better upper-limb function on the Action Research Arm Test at 90 days. The manufacturer paid for it. 6
Evidence checklist
- Randomised controlled trial Cochrane review of 6 RCTs; CARS, CAPTAIN trials
- Human study over 100 people Cochrane pooled 1,501 participants
- More than one research group Many trials manufacturer-supported, high bias risk
- Clinical outcomes, not surrogate markers Death and dependence after stroke assessed
- Human safety data beyond case reports Pooled data: 2.5x more serious non-fatal events
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More on Cerebrolysin
Citations
- 2021, Neurol Sci: Cerebrolysin for stroke, neurodegeneration and TBI, review pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 2021, Neurol Sci: prospective meta-analysis of the CAPTAIN trials in TBI pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Ziganshina 2017, Cochrane: Cerebrolysin for acute ischaemic stroke pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Cochrane CD007026, latest update: Cerebrolysin for acute ischaemic stroke doi.org
- Cochrane CD008900: Cerebrolysin for vascular dementia doi.org
- Muresanu 2016, Stroke: Cerebrolysin and recovery after stroke (CARS) pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 2014, Kaohsiung J Med Sci: neuroprotective properties of Cerebrolysin doi.org
- 2006, Acta Neuropathol: anti-apoptotic effects of Cerebrolysin in experimental models doi.org
- Springer chapter: Cerebrolysin and excitotoxic neuronal damage doi.org
Reference information only, not medical advice. Drawn from the Cerebrolysin article, fact-checked against the cited sources. No dosing anywhere on this site.