Efficacy and Safety of Amantadine for Functional Recovery in Adults with Traumatic Brain Injury: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Davi Orli Machado Grüdtner1, João Padula Rocha1, Mateus Damiani Monteiro2, Giovanna Durgante Vitória1, Maria Júlia Hallack Moura1, Tamiris Dal Bó Martinello1, Josete Mazon1
1Federal University of Santa Catarina, 2Hospital São João Batista
Objective:
To present the results of a systematic review and meta-analysis about the efficacy and safety of amantadine to functional recovery in patients who suffered traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Background:
Amantadine is an antiviral drug with neuroprotective and neurostimulant properties, but its benefits on functional recovery after traumatic brain injuries are still uncertain. We aimed to perform a meta-analysis to evaluate the effects of amantadine in adults with TBI.
Design/Methods:
We systematically searched PubMed (MEDLINE), EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Web of Science for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies evaluating amantadine use in patients with TBI. Heterogeneity was examined with the Cochran Q test and I² statistics; p-values below 0.10 and I² > 25% were considered significant for heterogeneity. We performed statistical analysis with R software (version 4.4.0) with the meta package (version 7.0-0).
Results:
We included 7 RCTs and 4 observational studies accounting for 1273 patients of whom 459 (36%) received amantadine. The analyses yielded results comparing amantadine use with its no-use showing no difference in functional recovery (SMD -0.36; 95% CI [-0.45, 0.31]; p = 0.72; I² = 78%), epileptic seizures (RR 0.78; 95% CI [0.42, 1.44]; p = 0.43; I² = 0%), in-hospital mortality (RR 0.9; 95% CI [0.35, 2.33]; p = 0.83; I² = 48%), and gastrointestinal events (RR 1.17; 95% CI [0.95, 1.43]; p = 0.13; I² = 0%).
Conclusions:
There was no significant difference between amantadine and the absence of its use to improve functional recovery in the context of TBI.
Disclaimer: Abstracts were not reviewed by Neurology® and do not reflect the views of Neurology® editors or staff.