Functional outcome after intracerebral haemorrhage - a review of the potential role of antiapoptotic agents

Rev Neurosci. 2016 Apr 1;27(3):317-27. doi: 10.1515/revneuro-2015-0046.

Abstract

Intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) is the second most common form of stroke and is associated with greater mortality and morbidity compared with ischaemic stroke. The current ICH management strategies, which mainly target primary injury mechanisms, have not been shown to improve patient's functional outcome. Consequently, multimodality treatment approaches that will focus on both primary and secondary pathophysiology have been suggested. During the last decade, a proliferation of experimental studies has demonstrated the role of apoptosis in secondary neuronal loss at the periphery of the clot after ICH. Subsequently, the value of certain antiapoptotic agents in reducing neuronal death and improving functional outcome following ICH was evaluated in animal models. Preliminary evidence from those studies strongly supports the potential role of antiapoptotic agents in reducing neuronal death and improving functional outcome after intracerebral haemorrhage. Expectedly, the ongoing and subsequent clinical trials will substantiate these findings and provide clear information on the most potent and safe antiapoptotic agents, their appropriate dosage, and temporal window of action, thereby making them suitable for the multimodality treatment approach.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Cerebral Hemorrhage / drug therapy*
  • Cerebral Hemorrhage / metabolism
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Humans
  • Neurons / cytology
  • Neurons / drug effects*
  • Stroke / complications
  • Stroke / drug therapy*
  • Treatment Outcome