A meta-analysis of treating acute traumatic brain injury with calcium channel blockers

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#brain-injuries #calcium-channel-blockers #databases-factual #humans

A meta-analysis of treating acute traumatic brain injury with calcium channel blockers

Xu et al., 2013 | Brain Res Bull | Meta Analysis

Citation

Xu Gang-Zhu, Wang Mao-De, ... Li Wen. A meta-analysis of treating acute traumatic brain injury with calcium channel blockers. Brain Res Bull. 2013-Oct;99:41-7. doi:10.1016/j.brainresbull.2013.09.011

Abstract

The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate and meta-analyse the current evidence for the use of calcium channel blockers (CCBs) in the treatment of acute traumatic brain injury (TBI) and traumatic subarachnoid haemorrhage (tSAH). A systematic search of clinical trials.gov, Cochrane library databases, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Web of science search and WHO trial registry, plus hand-searching of grey literature, was undertaken in March 2013. Two reviewers independently extracted the data using a pre-defined data extraction form. RevMan 5 software was used to synthesise data and calculate the risk ratio (RR) based on event rates as well as the 95% confidence interval (CI). Finally, nine RCTs with a total of 2182 patients were included. Meta-analysis showed that there was no difference between CCBs and control groups for rates of mortality (n=1337, 5 RCTs, RR 0.93 CI 0.77-1.12). In a subgroup tSAH analysis, the difference was not significant (n=389, 2 RCTs, RR 0.73 CI 0.53-1.02). There were slightly fewer unfavourable outcomes in the treatment group, but the difference was not statistically significant (n=2101, 8 RCTs, RR 0.90 CI 0.76-1.08). In the subgroup tSAH analysis, again, the difference did not reach statistical significance (n=1074, 5 RCTs, RR 0.95 CI 0.73-1.24). It seems that larger, well-designed RCTs are necessary in order to ascertain any clinical benefit CCBs may or may not have for the treatment of acute TBI.

Key Findings

It seems that larger, well-designed RCTs are necessary in order to ascertain any clinical benefit CCBs may or may not have for the treatment of acute TBI.

Outcomes Measured

  • Requires manual extraction

Population

Field Value
Population See abstract
Sample Size 1337
Age Range See abstract
Condition See abstract

MeSH Terms

  • Brain Injuries
  • Calcium Channel Blockers
  • Databases, Factual
  • Humans

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Meta Analysis
  • Publication Types: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis, Systematic Review
  • Vertical: calcium

Provenance

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09