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Speech Therapy Combined With Cerebrolysin in Enhancing Nonfluent Aphasia Recovery After Acute Ischemic Stroke: ESCAS
Volker Homberg1, Dragoș Cătălin Jianu2,3,4, Adina Stan5,6
1Department of Neurorehabilitation, SRH Gesundheitszentrum Bad Wimpfen GmbH, Germany (V.H.).
Stroke
|February 17, 2025
Summary
Cerebrolysin combined with speech therapy significantly improved language and neurological function in patients with poststroke aphasia. This combination therapy shows promise for enhancing recovery and functional independence in stroke survivors.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Clinical Neurology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- Stroke-induced aphasia severely impacts communication and quality of life.
- Standard speech and language therapy (SLT) yields variable outcomes, necessitating novel therapeutic approaches.
- Cerebrolysin, a neuroprotective agent, presents potential benefits in stroke recovery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the synergistic effect of Cerebrolysin combined with SLT in treating poststroke aphasia.
- To address the research gap concerning the combined efficacy of Cerebrolysin and SLT.
Main Methods:
- A prospective, randomized-controlled, double-blinded trial (ESCAS) was conducted in two Romanian stroke centers.
- Participants with acute ischemic stroke and nonfluent aphasia received Cerebrolysin or placebo alongside SLT over 10-day cycles for 3 intervals.
- Primary outcome: Western Aphasia Battery (WAB); Secondary outcomes: NIH Stroke Scale, modified Rankin Scale, Barthel Index.
Main Results:
- Both groups improved, but the Cerebrolysin group showed significantly greater improvements in WAB scores (mean increase of 35.58 vs. 20.77 points, P<0.001).
- The Cerebrolysin group also demonstrated significant improvements in NIH Stroke Scale scores and greater gains in functional independence (Barthel Index).
- Safety analysis revealed no significant concerns regarding adverse events in the Cerebrolysin group.
Conclusions:
- Cerebrolysin combined with SLT is a promising adjunctive therapy for enhancing recovery in poststroke nonfluent aphasia.
- The combination therapy led to significant improvements in language function and neurological deficits.
- Further research with larger cohorts is warranted to confirm the efficacy of this combined treatment approach.
