Effect of cerebrolysin on gross motor function of children with cerebral palsy: a clinical trial
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Jafar Nasiri1, Faezeh Safavifar2
1Department of Pediatric Neurology, Faculty of Medicine and Child Growth and Development Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. nasiri.jafar@gmail.com.
Insights
Cerebrolysin (CBL) significantly improved gross motor function in children with cerebral palsy (CP). This treatment enhanced mobility and quality of life for pediatric patients undergoing rehabilitation.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pediatrics
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- Gross motor dysfunction is a primary challenge in cerebral palsy (CP), impacting patient quality of life.
- Improving gross motor function is crucial for reducing CP-related disabilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of cerebrolysin (CBL) in enhancing gross motor function in children with CP undergoing treatment.
Main Methods:
- A randomized clinical trial involving 50 pediatric patients (18-75 months) with spastic diplegic or quadriplegic CP.
- Participants received standard rehabilitation therapy, with the intervention group also receiving intramuscular cerebrolysin (CBL) for 10 days, followed by weekly doses for 4 months.
- Gross motor function was assessed using the Gross Motor Function Classification System-Expanded and Revised (GMFCS-E&R) before and after the trial.
Main Results:
- Both groups showed significant improvement in GMFCS levels post-treatment (P < 0.05).
- The cerebrolysin (CBL) group demonstrated a significantly greater reduction in GMFCS levels compared to the control group (2.1 vs. 3.16, P < 0.05).
Conclusions:
- Cerebrolysin (CBL) effectively improves gross motor function in children with cerebral palsy (CP).
- Findings align with the known neurotrophic and neuroprotective properties of CBL.
- Further research is recommended to explore continued neuroprotection and CBL pharmacokinetics in pediatric CP patients.
Abstract:
Gross motor dysfunction is considered as the most challenging problem in cerebral palsy (CP). It is proven that improvement of gross motor function could reduce CP-related disabilities and provide better quality of life in this group of patients. Therefore, the aim of this trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of cerebrolysin (CBL) on gross motor function of children with CP who are undergoing treatment. In this clinical trial study, paediatric patients aged 18-75 months with spastic diplegic or quadriplegic cerebral palsy, who were under rehabilitation therapy, were selected and randomly allocated in control and CBL groups. Patients in CBL group underwent treatment with standard rehabilitation therapy plus CBL. The latter was administrated intramuscularly as a single daily dose of 0.1 cc/kg for 10 days and then continued weekly for 4 months. Gross motor function of participants in the two studied groups, before and after trial, was evaluated and compared using the validated Persian version of gross motor function classification system-expanded and revised (GMFCS-E&R). During this trial, 108 patients with CP were evaluated for eligibility. From these, 50 patients were enrolled and randomly allocated in the CBL and control groups. Four months after trial, the mean level of GMFCS decreased significantly in the two groups (P < 0.05). However, it was significantly lower in the CBL group than in the control group (2.1 vs. 3.16, P < 0.05). The results of this trial indicated that CBL could improve gross motor function in patients with CP. This finding is consistent with neurotrophic and neuroprotective effects of CBL, which have been reported in various clinical trials in other neurological disorders. Further studies are recommended to establish the value of continued neuroprotection and to determine the pharmacokinetics/dynamics of CBL in this group of patients.
