Update on Neuroprotection after Traumatic Brain Injury

Abstract

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a prevalent cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. A focus on neuroprotective agents to prevent the secondary injury cascade that follows moderate-to-severe TBI has informed the field greatly but has not yielded any viable therapeutic options to date. New strategies and pharmacotherapy options for neuroprotection continue to be evaluated, including tranexamic acid, progesterone, cerebrolysin, cyclosporin A, citicholine, memantine, and lactate. Biomarkers of injury that can aid in diagnosis and prognosis have also been elucidated and are incrementally being used in clinical practice. The spectrum of TBI severity has also gained increasing attention as it relates to mild TBI or concussion, blast injury, and subacute or chronic subdural hematomas. In this review, we review the pathophysiology, recent clinical trials, and future directions for acute TBI.