PG2 for patients with acute spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study

Sci Rep. 2017 Mar 31:7:45628. doi: 10.1038/srep45628.

Abstract

PG2 is an infusible polysaccharide extracted from Astragalus membranaceus, which is a Chinese herb traditionally used for stroke treatment. We investigated the effect of PG2 on patients with spontaneous acute intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). A total of 61 patients with acute spontaneous ICH were randomized to either the treatment group (TG, 30 patients), which received 3 doses of PG2 (500 mg, IV) per week for 2 weeks, or the control group (CG, 31 patients), which received PG2 placebo. At 84 days after PG2 administration, the percentage of patients with a good Glasgow outcome scale (GOS 4-5) score in the TG was similar to that in the CG (69.0% vs. 48.4%; p = 0.2). The percentage of good mRS scores (0-2) in the TG was similar to that in the CG (62.1% vs. 45.2%; p = 0.3). In addition, no significant differences were seen when comparing differences in the C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α, and S100B levels between baseline and days 4, 7, and 14 after PG2 administration (all p > 0.05). The results are preliminary, necessitating a more thorough assessment.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Astragalus propinquus
  • Cerebral Hemorrhage / drug therapy*
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal / therapeutic use*
  • Female
  • Glasgow Outcome Scale
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Medicine, Chinese Traditional
  • Middle Aged
  • Polysaccharides / administration & dosage
  • Polysaccharides / isolation & purification
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal
  • Polysaccharides