In vivo studies suggest that progesterone (a female sex hormone) has significant neuroprotective effects. Now for the first time, research reports that progesterone can reduce the risks of death and disability in patients with brain injury.
The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, published in Annals of Emergency Medicine, investigated the safety and effects of progesterone in patients with acute traumatic brain injury. Researchers at Emory University in Atlanta, administered intravenous progesterone or a placebo to 100 adult patients with blunt traumatic brain injury (TBI), as part of the Progesterone for Traumatic brain injury--Experimental Clinical Treatment (ProTECT) study. The participants were treated within 11 hours of brain injury, usually from a car accident or fall. Neurologic function and disability levels were obtained from the participants after thirty days.
The researchers found that 13 percent of the progesterone group died, compared with 30 percent of the placebo group. Furthermore, the surviving progesterone group had a significant improvement in functional outcome and level of disability. No serious side effects or harmful events were reported with the progesterone treatment.
"In this small study, progesterone caused no discernible harm and showed possible signs of benefit," the study authors write.
REFERENCES:
1. Wright DW et al. ProTECT: A Randomized Clinical Trial of Progesterone for Acute Traumatic Brain Injury. Ann Emerg Med 2006 Sep 28; [Epub ahead of print].
Posted by Elaine Gavalas on December 27, 2006 02:50 PM
