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Updated: Jul 7, 2026
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Optimized Management of Endovascular Treatment for Acute Ischemic Stroke
Published on: January 18, 2018
Vinpocetine for acute ischaemic stroke.
1Semmelweis University, Department of Neurology, Balassa u. 6., Budapest, Hungary, H-1083. bereczki@neur.sote.hu
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
|February 7, 2008
Summary
Vinpocetine is a drug used for stroke treatment. Current evidence is insufficient to determine its effectiveness in reducing death or dependency after acute ischemic stroke.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Vinpocetine is a vasoactive and neuroprotective drug utilized in some countries for stroke management.
- Acute ischemic stroke is a critical medical condition requiring effective therapeutic interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of vinpocetine in patients experiencing acute ischemic stroke.
- To determine the impact of vinpocetine on survival and dependency rates post-stroke.
Main Methods:
- A systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing vinpocetine with placebo or other treatments was conducted.
- Searches included major databases (MEDLINE, Scopus) and registries up to February 2007, with treatment initiation within 14 days of stroke onset.
- Data extraction and quality assessment were performed independently by two reviewers, with death or dependency as the primary outcome.
Main Results:
- Two trials with a total of 70 participants (63 with reported data) were included in the analysis.
- No significant difference in death or dependency rates was observed between vinpocetine and placebo groups at one and three months.
- Confidence intervals were wide, indicating uncertainty regarding both potential benefits and harms; no adverse effects were reported.
Conclusions:
- There is currently insufficient evidence to support the use of vinpocetine for improving outcomes in acute ischemic stroke.
- Further high-quality randomized controlled trials are needed to establish the efficacy and safety of vinpocetine in this patient population.
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