Efficacy of simvastatin in treating patients with traumatic brain injury

Abstract

Background/aim Mortality and morbidity in traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients are still high. Understanding the role of new treatments in these patients is critical. So the potential role of simvastatin in the treatment of TBI patients was examined in this research. Methods 40 patients with acute TBI who were admitted to the ICU were split into two groups; the control group received standard care and head trauma protocol medications for 7 days, while the study group also received standard care and head trauma protocol medications but also received simvastatin 80 mg the first day and 40 mg every day for 6 days. ICU duration of stay and mortality, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score, Glasgow coma scale, amyloid precursor protein serum level at admission, 3 and 5 days after admission, and Glasgow outcome scale at discharge, 3 and 6 months after discharge were all noted. Results We found that the simvastatin group’s Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score at discharge had decreased significantly. The simvastatin group also showed greater Glasgow coma scale improvement beginning on day 3 of admission and continuing until day 7. When compared with the control group, simvastatin-treated patients had significantly lower levels of amyloid precursor protein on the third and fifth days of hospitalization. Patients using simvastatin had better Glasgow outcome scale results as compared with the control group. Conclusion We concluded that simvastatin has a promising effect in individuals with acute TBI.