![Sample our Bioscience journals, sign in here to start your access, Latest two full volumes FREE to you for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5925/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Bioscience.jpg"})
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this study was to assess the neuroprotective effect of progesterone administration on severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) for different follow-up periods and administration route by completing a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials (RCTs).
Methods
A systematic literature search of PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases and the Web of Science (from establishment of each to September 1, 2018) was performed to identify original RCTs that evaluated the associations between progesterone treatment and the prognosis of patients with severe TBI.
Results
Eight RCTs enrolling 2,251 patients with severe TBI were included. Within 3 months post-injury, patients with progesterone administration had a lower mortality (risk ratio [RR] =0.59; 95% CI [0.42–0.81], P=0.001) and better neurologic outcomes (RR =1.51; 95% CI [1.12–2.02], P=0.007) than those who received placebo. However, these differences did not persist at 6 months post-injury for mortality (RR =0.96; 95% CI [0.65–1.41], P=0.83) or neurologic outcomes (RR =1.09; 95% CI [0.93–1.27], P=0.31). The analysis stratified by administration route showed that beneficial effects were only observed in patients who received progesterone intramuscularly (RR =1.61, 95% CI [1.19–2.18], P=0.002); no benefit was observed with intravenous administration (RR =0.99, 95% CI [0.91–1.07], P=0.75).
Conclusion
Progesterone administration improved the clinical outcomes of severe TBI patients within 3 months but may not have significant long-term benefits 6 months post-injury.
Acknowledgments
The work was supported by grants from Hubei Province Health and Family Planning Scientific Research Project (WJ2017H0012) and Wuhan Science and Technology Bureau Research Project (2018060401011312).
Disclosure
The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.