A Comparative Study Of Different Doses Of Danhong Injection In The Treatment Of Acute Partial Anterior Circulation Cerebral Infarction

Objective:Danhong injection (丹红注射液,DHI), a very popular Chinese medicine injection, is reported to be effective for ischemic stroke. The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of DHI with different doses on ischemic stroke.Methods:Chinese hospital registered Danhong injection study is a perspective observational study, in which a total of 1292 patients with ischemic stroke were treated with DHI. Two different doses of DHI were used in the present study. The patients were matched by acute phase of ischemic stroke (within 2 weeks after onset), partial anterior circulation infraction, sex, age (±5 years), and NIHSS score (±1). Finally 148 patients were grouped into the 20 ml or 40 ml DHI group with 74 in each. The primary endpoint was the improvement of NIHSS score atl4-day after treatment. Results:Of the 148 patients with ischemic stroke, the 74 in the 40 ml DHI group had clinically important improvements in the NIHSS score. Mean (±SD) baseline and 14-day NIHSS score for the 40 ml DHI group were 6.57±4.30 and 2.43±2.51 respectively, versus 6.28±5.75 and 3.64±4.21, for the 20 ml DHI group (change from baseline in the 40 ml DHI group vs. change from baseline in the 20 ml DHI group,-1.49 points; P=0.029). Improvements were maintained after the baseline characteristics and other drugs were controlled. (P=0.012). No adverse events were observed. Conclusion:Effects of DHI on partial anterior circulation infarction in patients with acute phase of ischemic stroke is dose-dependent; however, further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to validate our findings (Chinese Clinical Trial Register, Number:ChiCTR-ONC-13003230).