BENEFICIAL EFFECT OF NAFTIDROFURYL ON RES IDUAL SYMPTOMS FOLLOWING HEAD-INJURY - A DOUBLE-BLIND-STUDY IN 50 PATIENTS

Fifty head injury victims were included in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of naftidrofuryl. Follow-up was three months . The study drug was given first as intravenous infusions in a dosage of 800 mg/day, then orally in a dosage of 600 mg/day. Evaluation was b ased on clinical criteria (neurological score, subjective clinical imp ression), computed tomography, and hospital stay duration (as a cost i ndicator). The neurological score was significantly better in the acti ve drug group between D5 and the end of the study period. Findings wer e similar for the clinical impression (p<0.01). A significant differen ce was also found for computed tomography. Hospital stay duration was 18.9 days with naftidrofuryl versus 35.1 days with the placebo (p<0.05 by Student's t test). An acceptable level of coherence was found betw een the various study criteria. These data suggest that early use of n aftidrofuryl reduces residual symptoms and hospital stay duration in v ictims of severe head injuries.