Combined Cortexin, Recognan, and magnetotherapy significantly cut spasticity and boosted cerebral blood flow in ischemic stroke patients.

Patients recovering from ischemic stroke, particularly those affecting the vertebrobasilar system, often face persistent neurological deficits, including spasticity and impaired cerebral blood flow. Standard rehabilitation therapies, while beneficial, frequently fall short in achieving optimal functional recovery. There is a critical need for enhanced neuroprotective and rehabilitative strategies that can mitigate secondary injury, promote neural plasticity, and improve long-term outcomes. This study explores the synergistic potential of combining established neuroprotective agents with advanced physical therapies to address these gaps.

This multicenter, prospective, observational, comparative, parallel-group clinical study enrolled 98 participants (59 women, 39 men, mean age 54±1.5 years) with ischemic stroke. Participants were randomized into three groups, all receiving standard therapy (exercise, massage, physiotherapy). Group I (n=34) additionally received Cortexin 10 mg intramuscularly twice daily × 15 days, Recognan 1000 mg oral solution once daily × 21 days, and high-intensity magnetic muscle stimulation. Group II (n=33) received Cortexin 10 mg intramuscularly twice daily × 15 days and high-intensity magnetic muscle stimulation. Group III (n=31) received only standard therapy. Effectiveness was assessed via clinical, neurological, cognitive, electroencephalography, ultrasound dopplerography (USDG), and neuropsychological tests on days 14 and 21.

The combined therapy in Group I yielded superior outcomes. By day 14, Group I showed a 27% reduction in lower limb spasticity, compared to a 25% reduction in Group II and a 15% reduction in Group III. USDG data revealed that 52% of patients in Group I experienced increases in maximum and linear blood flow velocity in both vertebral arteries post-treatment, significantly higher than 41% in Group II and 20% in Group III.

At discharge, Group I patients achieved a mean NIH Stroke Scale score of 9.3±0.2 points and a Rankin scale score of 2.1±0.2 points, indicating better functional recovery compared to the other groups. These results highlight a synergistic effect of the combined neuroprotection and magnetotherapy.