Efficacy and Safety of Cerebrolysin for Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Zhang D, Dong Y, Li Y, Chen J, Wang J, Hou L

BioMed research international5 Jun 2017Cited by 14 (Europe PMC)

PMID28656143PMCIDPMC5474547DOI10.1155/2017/4191670PepBankPUB-28656143

Summary

Cerebrolysin was reported to be effective in the neurological improvement of patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in experimental models, while data from clinical trials were inconsistent. We performed a meta-analysis to explore the efficacy and safety of cerebrolysin for AIS. PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library were searched for randomized controlled trials, which intervened within 72 hours after the stroke onset. We investigated the efficacy and safety outcomes, respectively. Risk ratios and mean differences were pooled with fixed-effects model or random-effects model. Seven studies were identified, involving 1779 patients with AIS. The summary results failed to demonstrate significant superiority of cerebrolysin in the assessment of efficacy outcomes of mRS and BI. Similarly, administration of cerebrolysin had neutral effects on safety outcomes compared with placebo, including mortality and SAE. However, the number of included studies was small, especially in the analysis of efficacy outcomes, which might cause publication bias and inaccurate between-studies variance in the meta-analysis. Conclusively, although it seemed to be safe, routine use of cerebrolysin to improve the long-term rehabilitation after stroke could not be supported by available evidence.

CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study4

4 results from studies that gave the peptide. 4 results from people.

01HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome
In patients with acute ischemic stroke, pooled randomized trials did not show significant superiority of Cerebrolysin on modified Rankin Scale outcomes.
In plain wordsIn stroke patients, pooled trials did not show that Cerebrolysin significantly improved disability outcomes.
Peptide
Cerebrolysin
Outcome
No significant changeModified Rankin Scale
Study
n: not reported in source
Outcome group
Exercise and physical function · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
The summary results failed to demonstrate significant superiority of cerebrolysin in the assessment of efficacy outcomes of mRS and BI.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We performed a meta-analysis to explore the efficacy and safety of cerebrolysin for AIS.
Summary · context
PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library were searched for randomized controlled trials, which intervened within 72 hours after the stroke onset.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2865614301
02HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome
In patients with acute ischemic stroke, pooled randomized trials did not show significant superiority of Cerebrolysin on Barthel Index outcomes.
In plain wordsIn stroke patients, pooled trials did not show that Cerebrolysin significantly improved daily-function outcomes.
Peptide
Cerebrolysin
Outcome
No significant changeBarthel Index
Study
n: not reported in source
Outcome group
Exercise and physical function · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
The summary results failed to demonstrate significant superiority of cerebrolysin in the assessment of efficacy outcomes of mRS and BI.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We performed a meta-analysis to explore the efficacy and safety of cerebrolysin for AIS.
Summary · context
PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library were searched for randomized controlled trials, which intervened within 72 hours after the stroke onset.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2865614302
03HumanSystematic reviewSafety outcome
In patients with acute ischemic stroke, Cerebrolysin had neutral effects on mortality versus placebo.
In plain wordsIn stroke patients, Cerebrolysin did not change mortality compared with placebo.
Peptide
Cerebrolysin
Outcome
No significant changeMortality
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Mortality · Whole body
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
Similarly, administration of cerebrolysin had neutral effects on safety outcomes compared with placebo, including mortality and SAE.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We performed a meta-analysis to explore the efficacy and safety of cerebrolysin for AIS.
Summary · context
PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library were searched for randomized controlled trials, which intervened within 72 hours after the stroke onset.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2865614303
04HumanSystematic reviewSafety outcome
In patients with acute ischemic stroke, Cerebrolysin had neutral effects on serious adverse events versus placebo.
In plain wordsIn stroke patients, Cerebrolysin did not change serious side effects compared with placebo.
Peptide
Cerebrolysin
Outcome
No significant changeSerious adverse events
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Adverse events · Whole body
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
Similarly, administration of cerebrolysin had neutral effects on safety outcomes compared with placebo, including mortality and SAE.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We performed a meta-analysis to explore the efficacy and safety of cerebrolysin for AIS.
Summary · context
PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library were searched for randomized controlled trials, which intervened within 72 hours after the stroke onset.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2865614304

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

Version 2Current
14 Oct 2026, 05:02 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
14 Oct 2026, 01:46 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

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MeSH terms

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