Neuroprotective effects of riluzole in neurotrauma models: A review

Physical injury to the central nervous system (CNS) remains one of the main causes of mortality and disability in young adults. Numerous therapies hav e been successfully evaluated in experimental traumatic brain or spinal cor d injuries (TBI, SCI) and, although some of them are currently under clinic al trials for these indications, no drug therapy is at present available. T hus, an interesting approach to reduce the CNS injury-induced damage could be the blockade of Naf-channels by drugs such as riluzole which is neuropro tective in models of TBI or SCI as summarized in this review. Repeated dose s ranging from 2 to 8 mg/kg were administered between 24h to 10 days post-i njury, with a first administration given either at 15 min or up to 6h post- injury. In these models riluzole was found to reduce both the size of spina l cord and brain lesions as well as brain edema, and to restore the neurolo gical, motor and cognitive impairments consequent of these injuries. The la rgest therapeutic time window obtained was 1 to 6h in TBI. Thus such a comp ound should be considered as an interesting candidate for the treatment or SCI or TBI.