Treatment of TBI in Adults: Excitatory Amino Acid Inhibitors

Apr 2, 2026 – Recent publication: A systematic review and meta-analysis aimed at evaluating the effect of excitatory amino acid (EAA) inhibitors in adult patients with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Intervention studied: Early administration (within the first week) of EAA inhibitors compared with placebo, standard care, or other interventions.

Number of studies included: 28 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) encompassing 4,238 patients.

Primary outcome: Long-term neurological function

Results: Early administration of EAA inhibitors did not show a significant improvement in long-term neurological outcomes in adults with moderate to severe TBI. Effects on mortality and secondary clinical outcomes were also not significant. More numerous, higher-quality randomized trials with sufficient statistical power are needed to clarify whether these treatments have a clinically meaningful role in TBI management.

Access the article: https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/16/3/e108337.long

Reference:
Bouras M, Costerousse O, Verret M, O’Connor S, Zarychanski R, Gagnon MA, Torkomyan TH, Ouellet A, Lauzier F, English S, Moore L, Turgeon AF. Excitatory amino acid inhibitors in adults with acute moderate to severe traumatic brain injury: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Open. 2026 Mar 19;16(3):e108337. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2025-108337. PMID: 41856577; PMCID: PMC13007133.