Exploratory analysis of oral glibenclamide in acute ischemic stroke

Intravenous glibenclamide (GBC) exerts neuroprotection in both preclinical and preliminary clinical studies. This study explored the safety and potential efficacy of oral GBC in patients with acute hemispheric infarction.

During January 2017 and August 2017, adult volunteers were recruited to receive oral GBC treatment, if they presented with an acute anterior ischemic stroke and a National Institute of Health Stroke Score of ≥8. Controls were those who met the above inclusion criteria and had not been on GBC or other sulfonylureas prior to stroke or after hospitalization. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to balance baseline characteristics. The primary endpoint was the score on the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at 6 months.

We included 213 patients in the unmatched cohort (20 in the GBC group and 193 in the control group) and 40 patients (20 in each group) in the matched cohort. In both cohorts, GBC treatment did not increase the risks of early death, hypoglycemia, and early neurological deterioration. Although GBC did not substantially improve 6-month functional outcome that measured in shift analysis of mRS, a slight trend toward less severe disability and death (mRS 5-6) was observed. In the matched cohort, GBC treatment was associated with lighter brain edema, when CED score was used for evaluation.

In this study, oral GBC is safe in treating acute hemispheric infarction and might have potential in preventing brain edema and consequential severe disability and death. An adequately powered and randomized trial is warranted.