Experience with citicoline in patients with post-stroke cognitive impairment

Objective: to investigate the efficacy and safety of citicoline (Ceresil® Canon) in patients with post-stroke cognitive impairment. Patients and methods. Examinations were made in 33 patients aged 45 years and older who had experienced primary ischemic hemispheric stroke with complaints of a decline in memory or other cognitive functions. The cognitive status was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). The presence of anxiety-depressive spectrum disorders was determined on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. All the patients received citicoline (Ceresil® Canon) oral solution at a dose of 1000 mg/day for 3 months. Results and discussion. Citicoline administration showed a statistically significant reduction in the severity of cognitive impairment (p<0.001). The time course of positive changes in the cognitive status of patients was reflected by an increase in the median score on the MMSE from 26 [25; 27.5] to 28 [26.5; 29] and on MoCA from 23 [21; 25] to 25 [22; 26]. There was a decline in the number of patients with anxiety-depressive disorders. No adverse events or side effects were found in the patients. Conclusion. The findings suggest that citicoline (Ceresil® Canon) produced as an oral solution is well tolerated and improves cognitive functions and affective sphere in patients in the recovery period of ischemic stroke.