Neuroprotective effect of Dl-3-n-butylphthalide on patients with radiation-induced brain injury: a clinical retrospective cohort study

Purpose: To evaluate the neuroprotective effects of Dl-3-n-butylphthalide (NBP) on patients with radiation-induced brain injury, a hospital-based, clinical retrospective cohort study was conducted. Patients and methods: Data were collected on patients diagnosed with radiation-induced brain injury from January 2009 to January 2015 in Department of Neurology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital. All patients enrolled have received cranial radiotherapy and were diagnosed with radiation-induced brain injury. Patients fulfilling certain eligibility criteria were recruited for analysis. The clinical therapeutic effects were observed and evaluated by LENT/SOMA scores before and one month after treatment in these two groups, respectively. Results: The therapeutic effects of headache (total efficiency 75.76%), eurologic deficit (total efficiency 81.58%), cognitive functions (total efficiency 77.78%) and MRI results (total efficiency 74.29%) were better in the experimental group than those in the control group (p < 0.05). Nevertheless, there was no significant difference in mood and personality changes between these two groups. Conclusions: Administration of Dl-3-n-butylphthalide, in adjunct to corticosteroid therapy, might provide a better outcome in patients with radiation-induced brain injury.