Progesterone and TBI Treatment - Essay Example

This paper is a summary of Sayeed’s and Stein’s article and points out the research hypothesis, research methods, test results, and the main emphasis of the research. According to the article, the mechanisms induced by traumatic brain injuries include inflammation, necrosis, antioxidants, increased levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines, and antioxidants. The article points out several treatments for TBI that have undergone trial with little success. The treatments include Glucocorticoids, Corticosteroids, and magnesium sulphate, which were discontinued or terminated due to their side effects or propensity to increase death rates.

The article points at several studies as well as preclinical trials that have shown the potential of progesterone, a hormone associated with female menstruation cycle, in reducing tissue damage, especially if administered at the acute stage of neuroinjury (Sayeed & Stein, 2009). According to research carried out by Sayeed and Stein, progesterone and its metabolite referred to as allopegnanolone act by reducing cerebral oedema, excitotoxicity, and encourage myelination of injured axons as well as diminishing apoptosis.

The above courses of action are vital in determining the rate and chances of recovery from traumatic brain injury and other ailments involving neuroinjury (Sayeed & Stein, 2009). . was that the success and absence of serious side effects of progesterone in test animals such as mice was a revelation that the same results could possibly be parallel to those in human (Sayeed & Stein, 2009). To answer the question of the effectiveness of progesterone in treatment of traumatic brain injury, the article points at several research trials that have been conducted in different species including homo sapiens.

The research was provoked by the realization that female rats, especially during pregnancy or proestrus stage, respond better to brain injuries by exhibiting reduced oedema. This was attributed to the increased level of progesterone in such periods. This triggered several trials in human patients with moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries. The trials showed that presence of progesterone in brain injured species at the traumatic stage results in decreased mortality and increased level of healing of the brain tissues (Sayeed & Stein, 2009).

In humans, the intravenous administration of progesterone in both males and females was safe and resulted in decreased mortality rate in patients with acute traumatic brain injury. The journal article discussed the comparisons of affectivity of progesterone in TBI treatment with that of other drugs such as placebo and concluded that progesterone was the best possible answer since it had shown no serious side effects on both male and female patients. After the significant success in the use of progesterone for TBI treatment, researchers devoted themselves to extend the research to the possibility of using progesterone in ischemic stroke treatment, which has shown several pathological similarities with TBI (Sayeed & Stein, 2009).

The article points at the recommendation made by STAIR committee to improve the