Evidence map›Paper›PMID 19160194›Full record

SynthesisThe Cochrane database of systematic reviews2009

Cooling therapy for acute stroke.

Heleen M Den Hertog, H Bart van der Worp, Mei-Chiun Tseng, Diederik Wj Dippel

Open access · greenAbstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 2009. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 42 papers, 5 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
42citing papers in PubMed, 5 pooled it
7.4field-weighted citation impact, top 3% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

42 citing papers in PubMed, 5 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 140 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Sulfonylurea drugs for people with severe hemispheric ischemic stroke.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2025
    Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Pooled it
  4. Modest cooling therapies (35ºC to 37.5ºC) for traumatic brain injury.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2014
    Pooled it
  5. Cooling for newborns with hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2013
    Pooled it
  6. Target temperature management in acute ischemic stroke.Frontiers in molecular biosciences · 2026
    Review
  7. Review
  8. Review
  9. Article
  10. Article
  11. Review
  12. Article
  13. Article
  14. Article
  15. Review
  16. Normothermia and Stroke.Current treatment options in neurology · 2017
    Review
  17. Article
  18. Therapeutic hypothermia for acute brain injuries.Scandinavian journal of trauma, resuscitation and emergency medicine · 2015
    Review
  19. Article
  20. Intracranial pressure elevation after ischemic stroke in rats: cerebral edema is not the only cause, and short-duration mild hypothermia is a highly effective preventive therapy.Journal of cerebral blood flow and metabolism : official journal of the International Society of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism · 2015
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.

Heleen M Den HertogDepartment of Neurology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Postbus 2040, Rotterdam, Netherlands, 3000 CA. m.denhertog@erasmusmc.nl
H Bart van der Worp
Mei-Chiun Tseng
Diederik Wj Dippel
Erasmus MC · NLNational Sun Yat-sen University · TWUniversity Medical Center Utrecht · NL

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIncreased body temperatures are common in patients with acute stroke and are associated with poor outcome. In animal models of focal cerebral ischaemia, temperature-lowering therapy reduces infarct volume. In patients with acute stroke, lowering temperature may therefore improve outcome. This is an update of a Cochrane review first published in 1999.

objectivesTo assess the effects of pharmacological and physical strategies to reduce body or brain temperature in patients with acute stroke. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Stroke Group trials register (last searched December 2007). In addition, we searched MEDLINE and EMBASE (January 1998 to December 2007). We scanned references and contacted authors of included trials. For the previous version of this review, the authors contacted pharmaceutical companies and manufactures of cooling equipment in this field. SELECTION CRITERIA: We considered all completed randomised or non-randomised controlled clinical trials, published or unpublished, where pharmacological or physical strategies or both to reduce temperature were applied in patients with acute ischaemic stroke or intracerebral haemorrhage. Outcome measures were death or dependency (modified Rankin Scale score >/= 3) at the end of follow up, and adverse effects. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently applied the inclusion criteria, assessed trial quality, and extracted and cross-checked the data. MAIN

resultsWe included five pharmacological temperature reduction trials and three physical cooling trials involving a total of 423 participants. We found no statistically significant effect of pharmacological or physical temperature-lowering therapy in reducing the risk of death or dependency (odds ratio (OR) 0.9, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.6 to 1.4) or death (OR 0.9, 95% CI 0.5 to 1.5). Both interventions were associated with a non-significant increase in the occurrence of infections. AUTHORS'

conclusionsThere is currently no evidence from randomised trials to support routine use of physical or pharmacological strategies to reduce temperature in patients with acute stroke. Large randomised clinical trials are needed to study the effect of such strategies.

Indexed as

AcetaminophenAcute DiseaseAnti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-SteroidalDipyroneHumansHypothermia, InducedIbuprofenRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicStrokeAcetaminophenAnti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-SteroidalDipyroneIbuprofen

Identifiers

PMID19160194
PMCPMC7073930
OpenAlexW1714706046

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.