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Combination of citicoline and physiotherapy in children with cerebral palsy
1Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Child Growth and Development Research Center, Research Institute for Primary Prevention of Non-Communicable Disease, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Insights
Citicoline combined with physiotherapy improved gross motor function in children with cerebral palsy more effectively than physiotherapy alone. This suggests citicoline is a promising therapeutic agent for pediatric cerebral palsy.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Cerebral palsy is the leading cause of childhood physical disability.
- Current treatments focus on improving functional outcomes.
- The study investigates citicoline as an adjunct therapy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of citicoline plus physiotherapy versus physiotherapy alone.
- To improve gross motor function in pediatric cerebral palsy patients.
Main Methods:
- A clinical trial involving 50 pediatric patients (18-75 months) with spastic diplegia or quadriplegia.
- The case group received citicoline injections (10 mg/kg) every other day for 3 months alongside physiotherapy.
- The control group received physiotherapy alone. Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels were assessed pre- and post-treatment.
Main Results:
- Citicoline plus physiotherapy showed a statistically significant improvement in GMFCS levels (64% improvement) compared to physiotherapy alone (32% improvement) (P=0.02).
- Improvements were observed across various GMFCS levels in the citicoline group.
- No significant difference in GMFCS level distribution between groups before (P=0.09) and after (P=0.47) treatment.
Conclusions:
- Citicoline in combination with physiotherapy demonstrates potential for enhancing gross motor function in pediatric cerebral palsy.
- Further research is warranted to confirm these findings and explore optimal treatment protocols.
- Citicoline may be a valuable addition to standard physiotherapy for improving functional outcomes in children with cerebral palsy.
Background:
The most common cause of physical disability in children is cerebral palsy. This study was aimed to evaluate the effect of citicoline in combination to physiotherapy versus physiotherapy alone, to improve the functional outcome in pediatric cerebral palsy.
Methods:
The clinical trial was performed on 50 pediatric patients aged 18-75 months with spastic diplegia or quadriplegic cerebral palsy. Patients were assessed in two groups: case group, under treatment, using injection of citicoline (10 mg/kg) every other day for 3 months and physiotherapy. Gross motor function classification system (GMFCS) levels were assessed in all patients before and after treatment.
Results:
Patient's mean age was 38.7 ± 17.2 months, and 52% were girls. Differences in the frequency of GMFCS levels between groups were not statistically significant, before (P = 0.09) and after (P = 0.47) treatment. In case group improving in GMFCS, level was occurred in 9/11 with level 2 to level 1, 3/5 with level 3 to other levels and 3/7 with level 4 to other levels. In the control group improving in GMFCS, level was occurred in 3/9 with level 2 to level 1, 3/10 with level 3 to other levels, and 2/4 with level 4 other levels. GMFCS level in 64% of cases was improved, whereas in control group, 32% was improved (P = 0.02).
Conclusions:
Results demonstrated that citicoline in combination to physiotherapy appears to be a promising agent to improve gross motor function in patients with cerebral palsy versus physiotherapy alone. Although, further studies are need to be done.
