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Effects of amantadine in children with impaired consciousness caused by acquired brain injury: a pilot study.

Author(s): McMahon MA, Vargus-Adams JN, Michaud LJ, Bean J

Affiliation(s): Division of Pediatric Rehabilitation, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Cincinnati School of Medicine and Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.

Publication date & source: 2009-07, Am J Phys Med Rehabil., 88(7):525-32.

Publication type: Randomized Controlled Trial; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

OBJECTIVE: To conduct a pilot study of amantadine in children with impaired consciousness caused by acquired brain injury, to establish design feasibility, and to assess the effect on level of arousal and consciousness. DESIGN: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial. Seven subjects (mean age, 12.7 yrs) with an acquired brain injury (mean duration, 6 wks) were randomized to receive either 3 wks of placebo or amantadine, followed by a 1-wk washout period and then 3 wks of the other agent. Main outcome measures were the Coma/Near-Coma Scale and Coma Recovery Scale-Revised, each done three times per week. Subjective evaluations of change in arousal and consciousness by the parent and physician were done weekly. RESULTS: Five subjects completed the study. There was no significant difference in the slopes of recovery during either arm for the Coma/Near-Coma Scale (P = 0.24) or the Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (P = 0.28), although improvements in consciousness were noted by the physician during weeks when amantadine was given (P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that amantadine facilitates recovery of consciousness in pediatric acquired brain injury and provides important information necessary to design future more definitive studies.

Page last updated: 2009-10-20

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