A systematic review of vinpocetine therapy in acute ischaemic stroke

Objectives: To determine whether vinpocetine decreases short- and long-term case fatality and proportion of dependent survivors if administered within 2 weeks of stroke onset. Methods: All published and unpublished trials were attempted to be identified using the standard search strategy of the Cochrane Collaboration Stroke Review Group, using MEDLINE searches performed with all known manufacturer code names and trade names of vinpocetine and by contacting manufacturers of vinpocetine to give information of all randomised controlled trials on vinpocetine in stroke. Researchers who participated in trials on vinpocetine in Hungary were asked for further information. Only truly randomised, unconfounded clinical trials that compared the effect of vinpocetine to either placebo or another reference treatment for acute stroke where treatment started no later than 14 days after stroke onset were eligible for inclusion. Data synthesis and analysis was performed using the Cochrane Review Manager software (RevMan version 3.0). Results: Among the identified studies on vinpocetine in stroke, only one fulfilled the selection criteria for inclusion in the review. No death occurred in the study groups and no statistically significant difference was found in dependency between the treatment and the placebo groups. No adverse effects were reported. Conclusions: Based on only one small randomised controlled unconfounded study, presently there is not enough evidence to decide whether the administration of vinpocetine does or does not decrease case fatality and dependency in acute stroke. Received: 16 December 1998 / Accepted in revised form: 2 March 1999