Cerebrolysin for the Treatment of Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in Adults: A Retrospective Chart Review

INTRODUCTION: Cerebrolysin is a neuroprotective drug used in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke. To our knowledge, this drug has never been evaluated in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Cerebrolysin in patients with aneurysmal SAH. METHODS: Aneurysmal SAH patients who had their aneurysm obliterated at our institution from 2007 to 2016 were retrospectively studied. Patients received Cerebrolysin treatment or standard care only (control group). Subgroup analyses were performed according to Hunt and Hess grade (good grade ≤ 2, N = 216; poor grade ≥ 3, N = 246) and treatment procedure (clip or coil). RESULTS: In good-grade patients (N = 216), clinical outcomes and mortality did not differ significantly between the control and Cerebrolysin groups. In poor-grade patients (N = 246), the mortality rate was significantly lower in the Cerebrolysin group (8.7%) than in the control group (25.4%, p = 0.006). In patients who received microsurgical clipping (N = 328), the mortality rate was significantly lower in the Cerebrolysin group (7.3%) than in the control group (18.5%, p = 0.016). CONCLUSION: Cerebrolysin injection during the acute period of SAH appeared to reduce the mortality rate, especially in poor-grade patients. This study suggests the potential of Cerebrolysin for treating aneurysmal SAH. Further studies are needed to confirm our results.