Edaravone administration and its potential association with a new clinical syndrome in cerebral infarction patients: Three case reports

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Edaravone is a widely used treatment for patients with cerebral infarction and, in most cases, edaravone-induced side effects are mild. However, edaravone-related adverse reactions have been receiving increasing attention.

CASE SUMMARY

We treated three patients with acute cerebral infarction who died following treatment with edaravone. Edaravone is a widely used treatment for patients with cerebral infarction and, in most cases, edaravone-induced side effects are mild. However, edaravone-related adverse reactions have been receiving increasing attention.

CONCLUSION

Our cases highlight the importance of educating clinicians regarding the new edaravone-induced clinical syndromes of cerebral infarction as potentially fatal adverse drug reactions. Considering that no laboratory or confirmatory test exists to diagnose edaravone-induced death from cerebral infarction, clinicians’ knowledge is the key element in recognizing this phenomenon.

Keywords: Edaravone; Sudden death; Patients; Cerebral infarction; Case report

Core Tip: We report three patients with acute cerebral infarction who died after edaravone treatment. Edaravone is used to scavenge oxygen free radicals in patients with acute ischemic stroke, and most clinicians are only aware of its damage to kidney function. However, the main symptoms in patients treated with intravenous edaravone, such as rapid disease change, coagulation dysfunction, cardiac arrest and other side effects are rarely reported. The purpose of this paper is to share the experience of edaravone therapy in clinical practice.