The optimal time window for the use and dosage of nimodipine for acute massive cerebral infarction: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background: A neuroprotective effect of nimodipine on acute cerebral infarction has been confirmed, but there are few reports regarding the therapeutic effect of nimodipine on acute massive cerebral infarction. There is also no consensus on the optimal time window for the use and dosage of nimodipine. This trial is planned to answer these questions using a double-blind randomized controlled design. Methods/Design: This is a double-blind randomized controlled trial. The experiments will be conducted in the Department of Neurology, Central Hospital Affiliated to Shenyang Medical College of China. One hundred patients with acute massive cerebral infarction will be randomly assigned to a control group and a treatment group. Patients in the control and treatment groups will receive intravenous infusion of citicoline and intravenous infusion of nimodipine (10 mg/d) respectively, for 7 consecutive days. Simultaneously, to determine the appropriate time window for treatment with nimodipine, patients in the treatment group will be divided into four subgroups according to the time of nimodipine administration: < 3 hours, 3-6 hours, 6-24 hours, and > 24 hours. The main outcome measures are: the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale and the Rankin scale will be used to assess the severity and recovery of neurological impairment, respectively. Cranial computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging will be used to evaluate brain lesions and the Barthel index will be used to assess the activities of daily living. Secondary outcome measures are heart rate and blood pressure. Discussion: It is hoped that the experimental results can determine the best application time window and dosage of nimodipine for acute massive cerebral infarction. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02248233; registered on 22 September 2014.