Trial reportStroke2016
Cerebrolysin and Recovery After Stroke (CARS): A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind, Multicenter Trial.
Registry-linked trialOpen access · greenAbstract readClinical Trial, Phase IIMulticenter StudyRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph
Trial report in Stroke, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT04751136 (Phase), which is not on this map. Cited by 68 papers, 11 of them syntheses that pooled it.
0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
68citing papers in PubMed, 11 pooled it
6.0field-weighted citation impact, top 4% of its field
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.
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.
Phase (2) Clinical Trial Studying the Effect of Cerebrolysin on Physical and Mental Functions of Down Syndrome
Who cites it
68 citing papers in PubMed, 11 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 153 citations in OpenAlex.
- Efficacy and Safety of Cerebrolysin as an Adjunct to Mechanical Thrombectomy in Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies.Brain and behavior · 2026Pooled it
- Cerebrolysin for acute ischaemic stroke.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2023Pooled it
- Cerebrolysin after moderate to severe traumatic brain injury: prospective meta-analysis of the CAPTAIN trial series.Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology · 2021Pooled it
- Cerebrolysin for acute ischaemic stroke.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2020Pooled it
- Safety and efficacy of Cerebrolysin in early post-stroke recovery: a meta-analysis of nine randomized clinical trials.Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology · 2018Pooled it
- Safety and efficacy of Cerebrolysin in motor function recovery after stroke: a meta-analysis of the CARS trials.Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology · 2017Pooled it
- Cerebrolysin for acute ischaemic stroke.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2017Pooled it
- Cerebrolysin for functional recovery in patients with acute ischemic stroke: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Drug design, development and therapy · 2017Pooled it
- Efficacy and Safety of Cerebrolysin for Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.BioMed research international · 2017Pooled it
- Cerebrolysin for acute ischaemic stroke.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2016Pooled it
- The economic burden of stroke: a systematic review of cost of illness studies.Journal of medicine and lifePooled it
- Efficacy of Cerebrolysin Treatment as an Add-On Therapy to Mechanical Thrombectomy in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke Due to Large Vessel Occlusion in Anterior Circulation: Results of a 3-Month Follow-up of a Prospective, Open Label, Single-Center Study.Translational stroke research · 2025Trial
- Effect of Huatuo Zaizao Pill on Neurological Function and Limb Motor Recovery in Ischemic Stroke Patients During Convalescence: An Open-Labelled, Randomized Controlled Trial.Chinese journal of integrative medicine · 2025Trial
- Trial
- Extended Poststroke Rehabilitation Combined with Cerebrolysin Promotes Upper Limb Motor Recovery in Early Subacute Phase of Rehabilitation: A Randomized Clinical Study.Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 2023Trial
- Randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, pilot trial to investigate safety and efficacy of Cerebrolysin in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.BMC neurology · 2020Trial
- Safety and efficacy of Cerebrolysin in acute brain injury and neurorecovery: CAPTAIN I-a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, Asian-Pacific trial.Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology · 2020Trial
- Efficacy and safety of Cerebrolysin treatment in early recovery after acute ischemic stroke: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded, multicenter clinical trial.Journal of medicine and lifeTrial
- Cerebrolysin and early neurorehabilitation in patients with acute ischemic stroke: a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical study.Journal of medicine and lifeTrial
- Improvement of aphasia deficits following traumatic intracranial hemorrhage: a case report.Journal of medicine and life · 2026Article
8 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
- Commented on by
Authors and funding
11 authors at 6 institutions in 4 countries.
Dafin F MuresanuFrom the Department of Clinical Neurosciences, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania (D.F.M.); Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, Cologne, Germany (W.-D.H.); Department of Neurology, SHR Gesundheitszentrum Bad Wimpfen GmbH, Bad Wimpfen, Germany (V.H.); Department of Neurology, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania (O.B.); Department of Neurology, "Grigore T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, Romania (C.D.P.); Department of Biometry and Clinical Research, IDV Data Analysis and Study Planning, Krailling, Germany (J.C.V., V.W.R.); Department of Clinical Research, EVER Neuro Pharma GmbH, Unterach, Austria (E.D., D.M., H.M.); Department of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Genetics, Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow City Hospital No. 8 for Neuropsychiatry, Moscow, Russia (A.G.); and "RoNeuro" Institute for Neurological Research and Diagnostic, Cluj-Napoca, Romania (D.F.M.). dafinm@ssnn.ro.
Wolf-Dieter HeissFrom the Department of Clinical Neurosciences, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania (D.F.M.); Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, Cologne, Germany (W.-D.H.); Department of Neurology, SHR Gesundheitszentrum Bad Wimpfen GmbH, Bad Wimpfen, Germany (V.H.); Department of Neurology, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania (O.B.); Department of Neurology, "Grigore T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, Romania (C.D.P.); Department of Biometry and Clinical Research, IDV Data Analysis and Study Planning, Krailling, Germany (J.C.V., V.W.R.); Department of Clinical Research, EVER Neuro Pharma GmbH, Unterach, Austria (E.D., D.M., H.M.); Department of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Genetics, Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow City Hospital No. 8 for Neuropsychiatry, Moscow, Russia (A.G.); and "RoNeuro" Institute for Neurological Research and Diagnostic, Cluj-Napoca, Romania (D.F.M.).
Volker HoembergFrom the Department of Clinical Neurosciences, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania (D.F.M.); Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, Cologne, Germany (W.-D.H.); Department of Neurology, SHR Gesundheitszentrum Bad Wimpfen GmbH, Bad Wimpfen, Germany (V.H.); Department of Neurology, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania (O.B.); Department of Neurology, "Grigore T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, Romania (C.D.P.); Department of Biometry and Clinical Research, IDV Data Analysis and Study Planning, Krailling, Germany (J.C.V., V.W.R.); Department of Clinical Research, EVER Neuro Pharma GmbH, Unterach, Austria (E.D., D.M., H.M.); Department of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Genetics, Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow City Hospital No. 8 for Neuropsychiatry, Moscow, Russia (A.G.); and "RoNeuro" Institute for Neurological Research and Diagnostic, Cluj-Napoca, Romania (D.F.M.).
Ovidiu BajenaruFrom the Department of Clinical Neurosciences, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania (D.F.M.); Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, Cologne, Germany (W.-D.H.); Department of Neurology, SHR Gesundheitszentrum Bad Wimpfen GmbH, Bad Wimpfen, Germany (V.H.); Department of Neurology, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania (O.B.); Department of Neurology, "Grigore T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, Romania (C.D.P.); Department of Biometry and Clinical Research, IDV Data Analysis and Study Planning, Krailling, Germany (J.C.V., V.W.R.); Department of Clinical Research, EVER Neuro Pharma GmbH, Unterach, Austria (E.D., D.M., H.M.); Department of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Genetics, Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow City Hospital No. 8 for Neuropsychiatry, Moscow, Russia (A.G.); and "RoNeuro" Institute for Neurological Research and Diagnostic, Cluj-Napoca, Romania (D.F.M.).
Cristian Dinu PopescuFrom the Department of Clinical Neurosciences, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania (D.F.M.); Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, Cologne, Germany (W.-D.H.); Department of Neurology, SHR Gesundheitszentrum Bad Wimpfen GmbH, Bad Wimpfen, Germany (V.H.); Department of Neurology, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania (O.B.); Department of Neurology, "Grigore T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, Romania (C.D.P.); Department of Biometry and Clinical Research, IDV Data Analysis and Study Planning, Krailling, Germany (J.C.V., V.W.R.); Department of Clinical Research, EVER Neuro Pharma GmbH, Unterach, Austria (E.D., D.M., H.M.); Department of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Genetics, Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow City Hospital No. 8 for Neuropsychiatry, Moscow, Russia (A.G.); and "RoNeuro" Institute for Neurological Research and Diagnostic, Cluj-Napoca, Romania (D.F.M.).
Johannes C VesterFrom the Department of Clinical Neurosciences, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania (D.F.M.); Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, Cologne, Germany (W.-D.H.); Department of Neurology, SHR Gesundheitszentrum Bad Wimpfen GmbH, Bad Wimpfen, Germany (V.H.); Department of Neurology, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania (O.B.); Department of Neurology, "Grigore T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, Romania (C.D.P.); Department of Biometry and Clinical Research, IDV Data Analysis and Study Planning, Krailling, Germany (J.C.V., V.W.R.); Department of Clinical Research, EVER Neuro Pharma GmbH, Unterach, Austria (E.D., D.M., H.M.); Department of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Genetics, Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow City Hospital No. 8 for Neuropsychiatry, Moscow, Russia (A.G.); and "RoNeuro" Institute for Neurological Research and Diagnostic, Cluj-Napoca, Romania (D.F.M.).
Volker W RahlfsFrom the Department of Clinical Neurosciences, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania (D.F.M.); Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, Cologne, Germany (W.-D.H.); Department of Neurology, SHR Gesundheitszentrum Bad Wimpfen GmbH, Bad Wimpfen, Germany (V.H.); Department of Neurology, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania (O.B.); Department of Neurology, "Grigore T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, Romania (C.D.P.); Department of Biometry and Clinical Research, IDV Data Analysis and Study Planning, Krailling, Germany (J.C.V., V.W.R.); Department of Clinical Research, EVER Neuro Pharma GmbH, Unterach, Austria (E.D., D.M., H.M.); Department of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Genetics, Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow City Hospital No. 8 for Neuropsychiatry, Moscow, Russia (A.G.); and "RoNeuro" Institute for Neurological Research and Diagnostic, Cluj-Napoca, Romania (D.F.M.).
Edith DopplerFrom the Department of Clinical Neurosciences, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania (D.F.M.); Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, Cologne, Germany (W.-D.H.); Department of Neurology, SHR Gesundheitszentrum Bad Wimpfen GmbH, Bad Wimpfen, Germany (V.H.); Department of Neurology, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania (O.B.); Department of Neurology, "Grigore T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, Romania (C.D.P.); Department of Biometry and Clinical Research, IDV Data Analysis and Study Planning, Krailling, Germany (J.C.V., V.W.R.); Department of Clinical Research, EVER Neuro Pharma GmbH, Unterach, Austria (E.D., D.M., H.M.); Department of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Genetics, Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow City Hospital No. 8 for Neuropsychiatry, Moscow, Russia (A.G.); and "RoNeuro" Institute for Neurological Research and Diagnostic, Cluj-Napoca, Romania (D.F.M.).
Dieter MeierFrom the Department of Clinical Neurosciences, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania (D.F.M.); Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, Cologne, Germany (W.-D.H.); Department of Neurology, SHR Gesundheitszentrum Bad Wimpfen GmbH, Bad Wimpfen, Germany (V.H.); Department of Neurology, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania (O.B.); Department of Neurology, "Grigore T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, Romania (C.D.P.); Department of Biometry and Clinical Research, IDV Data Analysis and Study Planning, Krailling, Germany (J.C.V., V.W.R.); Department of Clinical Research, EVER Neuro Pharma GmbH, Unterach, Austria (E.D., D.M., H.M.); Department of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Genetics, Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow City Hospital No. 8 for Neuropsychiatry, Moscow, Russia (A.G.); and "RoNeuro" Institute for Neurological Research and Diagnostic, Cluj-Napoca, Romania (D.F.M.).
Herbert MoesslerFrom the Department of Clinical Neurosciences, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania (D.F.M.); Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, Cologne, Germany (W.-D.H.); Department of Neurology, SHR Gesundheitszentrum Bad Wimpfen GmbH, Bad Wimpfen, Germany (V.H.); Department of Neurology, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania (O.B.); Department of Neurology, "Grigore T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, Romania (C.D.P.); Department of Biometry and Clinical Research, IDV Data Analysis and Study Planning, Krailling, Germany (J.C.V., V.W.R.); Department of Clinical Research, EVER Neuro Pharma GmbH, Unterach, Austria (E.D., D.M., H.M.); Department of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Genetics, Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow City Hospital No. 8 for Neuropsychiatry, Moscow, Russia (A.G.); and "RoNeuro" Institute for Neurological Research and Diagnostic, Cluj-Napoca, Romania (D.F.M.).
Alla GuekhtFrom the Department of Clinical Neurosciences, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania (D.F.M.); Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, Cologne, Germany (W.-D.H.); Department of Neurology, SHR Gesundheitszentrum Bad Wimpfen GmbH, Bad Wimpfen, Germany (V.H.); Department of Neurology, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania (O.B.); Department of Neurology, "Grigore T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, Romania (C.D.P.); Department of Biometry and Clinical Research, IDV Data Analysis and Study Planning, Krailling, Germany (J.C.V., V.W.R.); Department of Clinical Research, EVER Neuro Pharma GmbH, Unterach, Austria (E.D., D.M., H.M.); Department of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Genetics, Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow City Hospital No. 8 for Neuropsychiatry, Moscow, Russia (A.G.); and "RoNeuro" Institute for Neurological Research and Diagnostic, Cluj-Napoca, Romania (D.F.M.).
Moscow Research and Clinical Center for Neuropsychiatry · RUCarol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy · ROMax Planck Institute for Metabolism Research · DEPTV Group (Germany) · DEEVER Neuro Pharma (Austria) · ATPHV Dialysezentrum · DE
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
background and purposeThe aim of this trial was to investigate whether stroke patients who receive Cerebrolysin show improved motor function in the upper extremities at day 90 compared with patients who receive a placebo.
methodsThis study was a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter, parallel-group study. Patients were treated with Cerebrolysin (30 mL/d) or a placebo (saline) once daily for 21 days, beginning at 24 to 72 hours after stroke onset. The patients also participated in a standardized rehabilitation program for 21 days that was initiated within 72 hours after stroke onset. The primary end point was the Action Research Arm Test score on day 90.
resultsThe nonparametric effect size on the Action Research Arm Test score on day 90 indicated a large superiority of Cerebrolysin compared with the placebo (Mann-Whitney estimator, 0.71; 95% confidence interval, 0.63-0.79; P<0.0001). The multivariate effect size on global status, as assessed using 12 different outcome scales, indicated a small-to-medium superiority of Cerebrolysin (Mann-Whitney estimator, 0.62; 95% confidence interval, 0.58-0.65; P<0.0001). The rate of premature discontinuation was <5% (3.8%). Cerebrolysin was safe and well tolerated.
conclusionsCerebrolysin had a beneficial effect on function and global outcome in early rehabilitation patients after stroke. Its safety was comparable with that of the placebo, suggesting a favorable benefit/risk ratio. Because this study was exploratory and had a relatively small sample size, the results should be confirmed in a large-scale, randomized clinical trial. CLINICAL
trial registrationURL: http://www.clinicaltrialsregister.eu. Unique identifier: 2007-000870-21.
Indexed as
Recovery of FunctionAgedAmino AcidsDouble-Blind MethodFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedNeuroprotective AgentsProspective StudiesStrokeTreatment OutcomeAmino AcidscerebrolysinNeuroprotective AgentsCerebrolysinrandomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trialrecovery of functionrehabilitationstroke
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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390
Registered trials
NCT04751136ClinicalTrials.gov
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.