Baclofen in the Therapeutic of Sequele of Traumatic Brain Injury: Spasticity

Clinical Neuropharmacology, 2016 · DOI: 10.1097/WNF.0000000000000179 · Published: November 1, 2016

Simple Explanation

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is caused by an external force, which may be a hit on the skull, rapid acceleration or deceleration, penetration of an object, or shock waves from an explosion. Baclofen is a muscle relaxant used to treat spasticity and improve mobility in patients with spinal cord injuries, relieving pain and muscle stiffness. Pharmacological support with baclofen is contradictory, because disruption of its oral administration may cause increased muscle tone syndrome and muscle spasm, prolonged seizures, hyperthermia, dysesthesia, hallucinations, or even multisystem organ failure.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

Not specified

Evidence Level

Review Article

Key Findings

1
Spasticity in TBI is estimated to be between 17% and 50% of patients with moderate to severe TBI that presents increased muscle tone or spasticity.
2
Baclofen produces its effects through supraspinal level GABAB receptor activation, acting at the spinal cord level, blocking pathways polysynaptic and monosynaptic afferent transmission
3
Clinical studies support the effectiveness of different formulations of cannabinoid receptor agonists in multiple sclerosis spasticity.

Research Summary

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an alteration in brain function, caused by an external force...Traumatic brain injury is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Baclofen is a muscle relaxant used to treat spasticity and improve mobility in patients with spinal cord injuries, relieving pain and muscle stiffness. The absence of evidence does not necessarily mean a lack of effectiveness of drug treatment in the rehabilitation of functions.

Practical Implications

Genetic Predisposition

Identify if there is a genetic predisposition that can affect recovery from traumatic consequences and thus explain individual susceptibility to traumatic impact and personal response to drug treatment.

Biomarker Study

The study of biomarkers with diagnostic and prognostic utility in TBI, enabling timely treatment of patients, especially those who show early signs of poor prognosis, to prevent the sequelae.

Multicenter Clinical Trials

Perform multicenter clinical trials, double-blind, controlled group, to demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of drug groups used in the rehabilitation of the affected functions after TBI.

Study Limitations

1
Diversity of reasons for TBI (falls, traffic accidents, violence, sports, war, etc.)
2
Wide range of pathophysiological mechanisms involved in the injuries
3
Lack of diagnostic biomarkers and presence of prognosis in the initial management of TBI

Your Feedback

Was this summary helpful?

Back to Pharmacology