[Gangliosides in neurological pharmacotherapy]

Abstract

Gangliosides take part in synaptic transmission, neuronal metabolism and development of nervous tissue. They cooperate with nerve growth factor (NGF) and have positive influence on regeneration of the nervous system impairments. There exist many behavioural and biochemical evidences of gangliosides participation in the regeneration of experimentally injured animal nervous system. The therapeutic effectivity of gangliosides in clinical practice is encouraging. Commercial preparates of gangliosides (Cronassial, Sygen) have been successfully used in the therapy of chronic neuropathies, strokes and subarachnoidal haemorrhages. Among the adverse reactions to these drugs are: local irritation, anxiety and possible detrimental effect in immunological system. Ganglioside preparations need further clinical examinations.