Circulating neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio at admission predicts the long-term outcome in acute traumatic cervical spinal cord injury patients.

BACKGROUND: The prognostic value of Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) for the outcome of acute cervical traumatic spinal cord injury (tSCI) patients has rarely been studied by now throughout the world. METHODS: We performed a single-center retrospective cohort study to evaluate the prognostic value of NLR from peripheral whole blood count in patients with acute cervical tSCI. Patients within 6 h of acute cervical tSCI treated between Dec 2008 and May 2018 in Huashan Hospital of Fudan University were enrolled. Outcomes of patients with tSCI were assessed using American spinal injury association Impairment Scale (AIS). 6-month outcomes were dichotomized into poor outcome group (AIS A to C) and good outcome group (AIS D and E). Uni- and multivariate analyses were performed to assess the independent predictors of 6-month outcome. Two prediction models based on admission characteristics were built to evaluate the prognostic value of NLR. The discriminative ability of predictive models was evaluated using the area under the curve (AUC). RESULTS: A total of 377 patients were identified from our single center in China PR. Multivariate analysis showed that age, AIS grade at admission, NLR (p < 0.001) and coagulopathy (p = 0.003) were independent predictors of the 6-months outcome for acute cervical tSCI patients. The model combing NLR and standard variables (AUC = 0.944; 95% CI, 0.923-0.964) showed a more favorable prognostic value than that without NLR (AUC = 0.841; 95% CI, 0.798-0.885) in terms of 6-month outcome. CONCLUSIONS: NLR is firstly identified as an independent predictor of the 6-month outcome in acute cervical tSCI patients worldwide. The prognostic value of NLR is favorable, and a high NLR is associated with poor outcome in patients with acute cervical tSCI.

Tetranectin knockout mice develop features of Parkinson disease.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Aggregation of insoluble α-synuclein to form Lewy bodies (LBs) may contribute to the selective loss of midbrain dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson disease (PD). Lack of robust animal models has impeded elucidation of the molecular mechanisms of LB formation and other critical aspects of PD pathogenesis. METHODS: We established a mouse model with targeted deletion of the plasminogen-binding protein tetranectin (TN) gene (TN(-/-)) and measured the behavioral and histopathological features of PD. RESULTS: Aged (15-to 20-month-old) TN(-/-) mice displayed motor deficits resembling PD symptoms, including limb rigidity and both slower ambulation (bradykinesia) and reduced rearing activity in the open field. In addition, these mice exhibited more numerous α-synuclein-positive LB-like inclusions within the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) and reduced numbers of SNc dopaminergic neurons than age-matched wild type (WT) mice. These pathological changes were also accompanied by loss of dopamine terminals in the dorsal striatum. CONCLUSION: The TN(-/-) mouse exhibits several key features of PD and so may be a valuable model for studying LB formation and testing candidate neuroprotective therapies for PD and other synucleinopathies.

Proteomic analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid of Parkinson's disease patients pre- and post-deep brain stimulation.

AIMS: To investigate alterations in protein expression associated with deep brain stimulation (DBS) in an attempt to elucidate possible mechanisms of action . METHODS: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), obtained from six Parkinson's disease (PD) patients (pre- and post-DBS) and from six normal healthy controls, was studied for differentially expressed proteins. 2-D DIGE, in combination with MALDI-TOF and TOF-TOF Mass Spectrometry (MS) or ESI-MS, was used to identify the changed proteins (3 PD patients and 3 controls). Selected proteins were further studied using western blotting (6 PD patients and 6 controls). RESULTS: Twenty-one proteins were identified after MS and protein database interrogation. Apart from apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I), the expression levels of complement C4 (C4), IgA, tetranectin, and extracellular superoxide dismutase (EC-SOD), detected by western blotting, correlated well with the 2-D DIGE results. In the follow-up period, the expression levels of C4, apoA-I and IgA were stable whereas EC-SOD and tetranectin were significantly elevated. In addition, when DBS was ceased in one patient due to a suicide attempt, the levels of EC-SOD and tetranectin significantly decreased. CONCLUSION: Our preliminary results suggest that variations in the expression levels of EC-SOD and tetranectin in CSF is related to DBS.

[Role of small-dose recombinant human coagulation factor VIIa for coagulopathy in patients with isolated traumatic brain injury].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the role of small-dose recombinant human coagulation factor VIIa (rFVIIa) for coagulopathy in patients with isolated traumatic brain injury. METHODS: A total of 86 isolated traumatic brain patients with coagulopathy were treated at our neurosurgery intensive care unit (NICU) from January 2010 to December 2012. Their trauma registry data included mortality, pre-and post-rFVIIa coagulation parameters. Two-tailed paired t-test was used to determine significant changes in coagulation parameters and other major clinical parameters. RESULTS: Twenty-seven patients made up the low-dose rFVIIa (20 µg/kg) group. And the control group had 59 well-matched subjects. At admission, age, blood pressure, Glasgow coma scale score, hemoglobin, platelets and international normalize ratio were similar in both groups. After treatment, the INR of patients on rFVIIa was lower than that of the conventional treatment group (1.1 ± 0.2 vs 1.2 ± 0.2, P < 0.01) and it declined more in the rFVIIa group (0.3 ± 0.2 vs 0.1 ± 0.4, P = 0.05). No significant difference existed in mortality or length of stay between two groups.There was no occurrence of subsequent thromboembolic events. CONCLUSION: The application of small-dose rFVIIa can effectively reduce the value of INR and improve the coagulation status of patients. During the course of treatment, no major adverse events occur.

Characteristics and therapeutic profile of TBI patients who underwent bilateral decompressive craniectomy: experience with 151 cases.

BACKGROUND: Decompressive craniectomy (DC) and intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring are common approaches to reduce the death rate of Traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients, but the outcomes of these patients are unfavorable, particularly those who receive bilateral DC. The authors discuss their experience using ICP and other potential methods to improve the outcomes of TBI patients who receive bilateral DC. METHODS: Data from TBI patients receiving bilateral DC from Jan. 2008 to Jan. 2022 were collected via a retrospective chart review. Included patients who received unplanned contralateral DC after initial surgery were identified as unplanned secondary surgery (USS) patients. Patients' demographics and baseline medical status; pre-, intra-, and postoperative events; and follow-up visit outcome data were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 151 TBI patients were included. Patients who underwent USS experienced more severe outcomes as assessed using the 3-month modified Rankin Scale score (P = 0.024). In bilateral DC TBI patients, USS were associated with worsen outcomes, moreover, ICP monitoring was able to lower their death rate and was associated with a lower USS incidence. In USS patients, ICP monitoring was not associated with improved outcomes but was able to lower their mortality rate (2/19, 10.5%, vs. 10/25, 40.0%; P = 0.042). CONCLUSION: The avoidance of USS may be associated with improved outcomes of TBI patients who underwent bilateral DC. ICP monitoring was a potential approach to lower USS rate in TBI patients, but its specific benefits were uncertain.

Hypoxia-Induced Glioma-Derived Exosomal miRNA-199a-3p Promotes Ischemic Injury of Peritumoral Neurons by Inhibiting the mTOR Pathway.

The underlying molecular mechanisms that the hypoxic microenvironment could aggravate neuronal injury are still not clear. In this study, we hypothesized that the exosomes, exosomal miRNAs, and the mTOR signaling pathway might be involved in hypoxic peritumoral neuronal injury in glioma. Multimodal radiological images, HE, and HIF-1α staining of high-grade glioma (HGG) samples revealed that the peritumoral hypoxic area overlapped with the cytotoxic edema region and directly contacted with normal neurons. In either direct or indirect coculture system, hypoxia could promote normal mouse hippocampal neuronal cell (HT22) injury, and the growth of HT22 cells was suppressed by C6 glioma cells under hypoxic condition. For administrating hypoxia-induced glioma-derived exosomes (HIGDE) that could aggravate oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD)/reperfusion neuronal injury, we identified that exosomes may be the communication medium between glioma cells and peritumoral neurons, and we furtherly found that exosomal miR-199a-3p mediated the OGD/reperfusion neuronal injury process by suppressing the mTOR signaling pathway. Moreover, the upregulation of miRNA-199a-3p in exosomes from glioma cells was induced by hypoxia-related HIF-1α activation. To sum up, hypoxia-induced glioma-derived exosomal miRNA-199a-3p can be upregulated by the activation of HIF-1α and is able to increase the ischemic injury of peritumoral neurons by inhibiting the mTOR pathway.

ISO-alpha-acids improve the hematoma resolution and prevent peri-hematoma inflammations by transforming microglia via PPARgamma-CD36 axis in ICH rats.

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the effects of ISO-α-acids (IAAs), a PPAR-γ agonist, on ICH rats and its potential mechanism. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The Sprague Dawley rats ICH model was induced by stereotactic injecting of 100 µl autologous artery blood. Ninety male rats were randomly allocated to five groups: autologous blood and IAAs (IAA); received autologous blood, IAAs and PPAR-γ inhibitor (IAA + GW9662); autologous blood and normal Saline (Saline); only autologous blood (Mock); and only needle injection (Sham). Neurological functions were assessed by mNSS. Hematoma volume, brain water content, surface proteins and inflammatory factors were detected. The microglia anti-inflammatory abilities were also evaluated. RESULTS: IAAs were able to significantly decrease ICH rat's mNSS scores, alleviate brain water content, improve hematoma resolution than Saline, Mock (p < 0.05). More "M2" microglial/macrophage can be induced by IAAs. The expression of CD 36 was statistically higher in IAA than other groups (p < 0.05). Injection of IAAs led to a greatly increasing in CD 11b and CD 206 double-positive anti-inflammatory type microglial/macrophage, moreover, a reduction of inflammatory cytokines expression (p < 0.05). Such protective effects can be relieved by GW9662. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to elucidate the relationship between IAAs and ICH. IAAs were able to accelerate hematoma absorption, alleviate brain edema, suppress peri-hematoma inflammations and finally improved the outcome of ICH rats. The phenotype was due to the IAAs induction of "M2" microglial/macrophage via activating of PPAR-γ and increasing CD 36 expression.

Expression of TNF­α and IL­ß can be suppressed via the PPAR­Î³/mTOR signaling pathway in BV­2 microglia: A potential anti­inflammation mechanism.

Currently, microglia are considered as crucial factors in suppressing inflammatory reactions, but the specific molecular mechanism remains unknown. To elucidate whether peroxisome proliferator­activated receptor­Î³ (PPAR­Î³) can inhibit neuroinflammatory cytokine expression via the mTOR signal pathway, the BV­2 cell line was incubated with lipopolysaccharide (10 mM/ml) to induce an inflammatory injury. PPAR­Î³ was activated by rosiglitazone, and was inhibited by GW9662. The mTOR signal pathway was activated by phosphatidic acid (P.A.), while it was inhibited by rapamycin. Western blotting and reverse transcription­quantitative PCR were used to evaluate the expression levels of PPAR­Î³/mTOR signal pathway related proteins and neuroinflammatory cytokines, including NF­κB, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)­α and interleukin (IL)­1ß. When treated with P.A., the expression levels of phosphorylated (p)mTOR and p­ribosomal protein S6 kinase (pS6K) were significantly increased and the expression levels of TNF­α and IL­1ß were significantly lower. However, the expression of PPAR­Î³ was similar in P.A. treated cells and cells treated with rapamycin. When PPAR­Î³ was activated, pmTOR and pS6K protein expression levels were significantly decreased, and the mRNA expression levels of TNF­α and IL­1ß were significantly reduced, but this inhibition could be alleviated by administrating GW9662. Collectively, it was indicated that the mTOR signal pathway may be located downstream of PPAR­Î³. Furthermore, neuroinflammatory reactions could be inhibited via the activation of PPAR­Î³ by suppressing the mTOR signal pathway in microglia.

Selection of Patients' Recumbent Position Laterality According to Physician Handedness Bias Increases the Success Rate of Lumbar Puncture: A Multicenter Study.

BACKGROUND: Lumbar puncture (LP) is a medical procedure required during spinal anesthesia and for obtaining cerebrospinal fluid samples in the diagnosis of neurological disorders. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of physicians' handedness bias and the laterality of patients' recumbent position on the success rate of LPs. METHODS AND PATIENTS: A prospective multicenter study including 36 physicians (18 left-handed and 18 right-handed) and 7200 patients was conducted in 6 medical centers. In each center, 1200 patients were randomized into group L (LPs performed by left-handed physicians) or group R (LPs performed by right-handed physicians). Each physician performed 200 cases of LPs, of which the laterality of the recumbent position (either on the left or right side) was decided after a second randomization. A successful LP was considered when the free flow of cerebrospinal fluid was observed upon the first attempt. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in patient characteristics between groups L and R. Right-handed physicians had a significantly higher LP success rate with patients in the left lateral recumbent position (LRP) (1595/1800 vs. 1408/1800; odds ratio, 0.539; 95% confidence interval, 0.348-0.836; P=0.006). For left-handed physicians, the LP success rate was higher when patients were in the right LRP (1424/1800 vs. 1593/1800, odds ratio, 0.449; 95% confidence interval, 0.283-0.711; P=0.001). Patients' age, sex, height, and weight were not statistically related to LP success during multivariate analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Physicians handedness bias and patient laterality of recumbent position affects the success of LPs. Right-handed physicians have a greater chance of performing successful LPs when patients are in the left LRP, and vice versa.

Intensive blood pressure control reduces the risk of progressive hemorrhage in patients with acute hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage: A retrospective observational study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of intensive blood pressure control on progressive intracerebral hemorrhage and outcome in patients with high blood pressure and intracerebral hemorrhage. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted recruiting 659 patients with acute hemorrhagic stroke between Jan. 2012 and May 2018. Patients recruited before May 2015 were treated with a target systolic level of <180 mm Hg, while those recruited after May 2015 received intensive blood pressure control treatment with a target systolic level of <140 mm Hg within 1 h. Uni- and multi-variate analysis were conducted to illustrate the association between intensive blood pressure control and progressive intracerebral hemorrhage. Mortality, rates of operation, length of ICU stay, modified Rankin scores at 90 days, and the rate of serious adverse events were also compared between the two groups. RESULTS: A total of 351 and 308 patients with acute hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage were recruited before and after May 2015, respectively. Progressive intracerebral hemorrhage was identified among 111 out of 659 patients. Patients who received intensive blood pressure control showed a statistically lower rate of hematoma enlarging (43 of 308, 13.9% vs. 74 of 351, 21.1%, p = 0.018). The rates of operation and modified Rankin scores at 90 days were statistically lower with intensive blood control, while the mortality, length of ICU stay and rate of serious adverse events were similar between the two groups. Intensive BP control is an independent factor in predicting hematoma growing, with a more favorable discrimination (AUC = 0.889; 95%CI, 0.859-0.917) than other two models (AUC = 0.821; 95%CI, 0.791-0.852; and AUC = 0.635; 95%CI, 0.588-0.682). CONCLUSION: Intensive blood pressure control reduce the risk of progressive intracerebral hemorrhage and improved functional outcomes in patients with acute hemorrhagic stroke.

Prognostic Value of Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio in Predicting the 6-Month Outcome of Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury: A Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Peripheral white blood cells are regularly analyzed on admission for patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). The prognostic value of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in predicting the 6-month outcome of patients with TBI is unclear. METHODS: We designed a single-center retrospective cohort study. Patients admitted to Fudan University Huashan Hospital within 6 hours after TBI were identified between December 2004 and December 2017. The primary outcome was 6-month Glasgow Outcome Scale score. Independent predictors of 6-month outcome were assessed using uni- and multivariate analyses. Three models based on admission characteristics were built to evaluate the prognostic value of the NLR in predicting the outcome of patients with TBI. The discriminative ability of predictive models was evaluated by the area under the curve (AUC). RESULTS: A total of 1291 patients with TBI were included. Multivariate analysis showed age, Glasgow Coma Scale scores at admission, subdural hematoma, intraparenchymal hemorrhage, traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage, NLR (P < 0.001), and coagulopathy (P = 0.028) were independent predictors of 6-month outcome. The model combining the NLR and standard variables (AUC = 0.936; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.923-0.949) was more favorable in predicting 6-month outcome of patients with TBI than the model without the NLR (AUC = 0.901; 95% CI, 0.883-0.919) and the model based only on the NLR (AUC = 0.827; 95% CI, 0.802-0.852). CONCLUSIONS: NLR is an independent prognostic factor of predicting 6-month outcome of patients with TBI. A high NLR in patients with TBI is associated with poor outcome. The prognostic value of the NLR in predicting 6-month outcome of patients with TBI is favorable.

Prognostic value of coagulation tests for in-hospital mortality in patients with traumatic brain injury.

BACKGROUND: Coagulopathy is commonly observed after traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, it is not known whether using the standard independent predictors in conjunction with coagulation tests would improve their prognostic value. We determined the incidence of TBI-associated coagulopathy in patients with isolated TBI (iTBI), evaluated the prognostic value of coagulation tests for in-hospital mortality, and tested their predictive power for in-hospital mortality in patients with iTBI. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective, observational database study on 2319 consecutive patients with iTBI who attended the Huashan Hospital Department of the Neurosurgery Neurotrauma Center at Fudan University in China between December 2004 and June 2015. Two models based on the admission characteristics were developed: model A included predictors such as age, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, pupil reactivity, type of injury, and hemoglobin and glucose levels, while model B included the predictors from model A as well as coagulation test results. A total of 1643 patients enrolled between December 2004 and December 2011 were used to derive the prognostic models, and 676 patients enrolled between January 2012 and June 2015 were used to validate the models. RESULTS: Overall, 18.6% (n = 432) of the patients developed coagulopathy after iTBI. The prevalence of acute traumatic coagulopathy is associated with the severity of brain injury. The percentage of platelet count <100 × 109/L, international normalized ratio (INR) > 1.25, the prothrombin time (PT) > 14 s, activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) > 36 s, D-dimer >5 mg/L and fibrinogen (FIB) < 1.5 g/L was also closely related to the severity of brain injury, significance being found among three groups. Age, pupillary reactivity, GCS score, epidural hematoma (EDH), and glucose levels were independent prognostic factors for in-hospital mortality in model A, whereas age, pupillary reactivity, GCS score, EDH, glucose levels, INR >1.25, and APTT >36 s exhibited strong prognostic effects in model B. Discrimination and calibration were good for the development group in both prediction models. However, the external validation test showed that calibration was better in model B than in model A for patients from the validation population (Hosmer-Lemeshow test, p = 0.152 vs. p = 0.046, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Coagulation tests can improve the predictive power of the standard model for in-hospital mortality after TBI.

Effects of Deferoxamine Mesylate on Hematoma and Perihematoma Edema after Traumatic Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

Deferoxamine mesylate can cross the blood-brain barrier and reduce iron accumulation in nervous tissue; moreover, it has a variety of neuroprotective functions in addition to complexing with iron ions. Such iron chelators are expected to become a new treatment option for intracerebral hemorrhage. This study evaluated the effects of deferoxamine mesylate on hematoma and edema absorption after traumatic intracerebral hemorrhage (TICH), and it provides clinical evidence for TICH treatment with deferoxamine mesylate. Patients with isolated TICH, confirmed by head computed tomography, were enrolled prospectively from January 2013 to December 2016. Patients were divided non-randomly into an experimental or control group as decided by the attending neurosurgeon. Patients in the experimental group received intravenous deferoxamine mesylate (20 mg/kg daily) from the day of admission for 5 consecutive days. We evaluated the impact of deferoxamine mesylate on the change in edema volume and the absorption of hematoma volume using a propensity score-matched analysis. In total, 190 patients were included. After matching, 94 patients were included in the final analysis (47 per group); no variable differed significantly between the two groups. The hematoma volume on the 7th day in the control group was higher than that at the same time-point in the experimental group (9.4 ± 7.2 vs. 5.2 ± 4.8 mL; p = 0.001). There was no difference in hematoma volume on Day 1 (12.6 ± 7.8 vs. 12.8 ± 6.4 mL; p = 0.896), Day 3 (12.4 ± 7.4 vs. 11.4 ± 4.9 mL; p = 0.442), and Day 14 (3.2 ± 3.0 vs. 2.5 ± 2.6 mL; p = 0.215) between the groups. The absorption of hematoma volume between the 1st and 3rd days and the 1st and 7th days in the experimental group was higher than that during the same periods in the control group. The edema volumes on the 3rd, 7th, and 14th days in the control group were higher than those at the same time-points in the experimental group. There was no difference in edema volume on the 1st day. The changes in edema volume between the 1st and 3rd days, the 1st and 7th days, and the 1st and 14th days in the control group were higher than those during the same periods in the experimental group. Deferoxamine mesylate may accelerate hematoma absorption and inhibit edema after TICH; however, further investigation is required to reach definitive conclusions.

Coagulopathy in Traumatic Brain Injury and Its Correlation with Progressive Hemorrhagic Injury: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The association between coagulopathy and either isolated traumatic brain injury (TBI) or progressive hemorrhagic injury (PHI) remains controversial. The aims of this study were to evaluate whether isolated TBI induces pronounced coagulopathy, in comparison with non-TBI or TBI in conjunction with other injuries (TBI + other injuries), and to examine whether there is any evidence of a relationship between coagulopathy and PHI in patients who have experienced TBI. The MEDLINE(®) and Embase databases, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (Central), were trawled for relevant studies. Searches covered the period from the inception of each of the databases to June 2015, and were conducted using appropriate combinations of terms and key words based on medical subject headings (MeSH). Studies were included if they compared isolated TBI with a similar severity of injury to other body regions, or compared PHI with non-PHI, with regard to coagulation tests and the prevalence of coagulopathy. We extracted the means and standard deviations (SD) of coagulation test levels, as well as their ranges or the percentage of abnormal coagulation tests, in both cases and controls. A total of 19 studies were included in our systematic review and meta-analysis. Only the mean fibrinogen (FIB) in isolated TBI was found to be significantly higher than in TBI + other injuries (pooled mean difference [MD] 32.09; 95% confidence interval [CI] 4.92-59.25; p = 0.02); in contrast, it was also significantly higher than in non-TBI (pooled MD 15.44; 95% CI 0.28-30.59; p = 0.05). We identified 15 studies that compared coagulopathy between a PHI group and a non-PHI group. The PHI group had a lower platelet count (PLT) value (pooled MD -19.21; 95% CI: -26.99 to -11.44, p < 0.001) and a higher international normalized ratio (INR) value (pooled MD 0.07; 95% CI: 0.02-0.13, p = 0.006) than the non-PHI group, but no differences were observed in the mean activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and prothrombin time (PT) between the PHI and non-PHI patients. In addition, PHI was significantly associated with a higher percentage of INR >1.2 (pooled OR 3.49 [95% CI 1.97-6.20], p < 0.001), PLT <100 × 109/L (pooled OR 4.74 [95% CI 2.44-9.20], p < 0.001), and coagulopathy (pooled OR 2.52; 95% CI 1.88- 3.38; p < 0.001), compared with non-PHI. The current clinical evidence does not indicate that the prevalence of coagulopathy in TBI is significantly higher than in injuries of similar severity to other areas of the body, or in multiple injuries with TBI. With respect to the association between coagulopathy and PHI, the occurrence of coagulopathy, INR, and PLT was significantly associated with PHI, but APTT and PT were not found to be associated with PHI. In the future, high quality research will be required to further characterize the effects of coagulopathy on TBI and subsequent PHI.

Low-dose recombinant factor VIIa for reversing coagulopathy in patients with isolated traumatic brain injury.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of low-dose recombinant factor VIIa (rFVIIa) (20 µg/kg) in reversing coagulopathy in patients with isolated traumatic brain injury (TBI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with isolated TBI and coagulopathy at admission were enrolled prospectively from January 2010 to December 2011. The patients were divided into 2 groups: the rFVIIa and the no-rFVIIa groups. In the rFVIIa group, patients received a single dose of 20 µg/kg rFVIIa intravenously to reverse their coagulopathy in addition to blood products. Patients in the no-rFVIIa group received only blood products to correct the coagulopathy. The clinical outcome variables evaluated included changes in coagulation parameters after administration for reversing coagulopathy, the occurrence of progressive hemorrhagic injury (PHI), intensive care unit length of stay, the incidence of thromboembolic complications, inhospital mortality, and 90-day Glasgow Outcome Scale. RESULTS: Eighty-seven patients were ultimately included in this study. Of them, 49 patients were treated with blood products alone, whereas 38 patients also received rFVIIa to reverse their coagulopathy. The improvement in international normalized ratio was greater in the rFVIIa group (0.26 [0.18-0.39]) than in the no-rFVIIa group (0.06 [-0.11 to 0.30]) (P = .001). In addition, the improvement in lactate was also greater in the rFVIIa group (0.33 [-0.18 to 0.54]) than in the no-rFVIIa group (0.04 [-0.25 to 0.20]) (P = .029). During the period after we began to correct the coagulopathy, PHI occurred in 19 patients (38.8%) in the no-rFVIIa group, which was significantly higher than that in the rFVIIa group (7, 18.4%; P = .040). The rate of cerebral infarction was similar in both groups (10.2% vs 5.3%). There was a trend indicating that low-dose rFVIIa therapy was associated with a lower mortality, but the association was not statistically significant (P = .266). CONCLUSIONS: The use of low-dose rFVIIa (20 µg/kg) is effective for correcting coagulopathy in patients with TBI without an increase in thromboembolic events. Moreover, it is more effective for preventing the occurrence of PHI.