• Rongcai Jiang, Dong Wang, Wai Sang Poon, Yi Cheng Lu, Xin Gang Li, Shi Guang Zhao, Ren Zhi Wang, Chao You, Xian Rui Yuan, Jian Min Zhang, Hua Feng, Zhou Fei, Xin Guang Yu, Yuan Li Zhao, Jin Hu, De Zhi Kang, Ru Tong Yu, Guo Dong Gao, Xi De Zhu, Tao Sun, Jie He Hao, Xian Zhi Liu, Ning Su, Shu Yuan Yue, and Jian Ning Zhang.
• Department of Neurosurgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, 154 Anshan Road, Tianjin, 300052, People's Republic of China. jiang116216@163.com.
• Trials. 2015 Nov 18; 16: 528.

BackgroundChronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) is a common disease that is more prevalent in older people. Surgical intervention is a safe treatment of choice. However, the recurrence rate is relatively high and the outcome is not always satisfactory among surgically treated patients. It is believed that aberrant angiogenesis and intracapsular inflammation contribute to the development of CSDH. Atorvastatin is reported to promote angiogenesis and suppress inflammation. We have recently shown that atorvastatin is effective to non-surgically reduce and eliminate CSDH with minimal side effects. Here, we report a clinical research trial protocol that is designed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of atorvastatin on CSDH.Methods/DesignWe have designed a multi-center, randomized, placebo-controlled, double blind clinical trial for evaluating the efficacy of oral atorvastatin in reducing CSDH. We have so far recruited 96 patients with CT-confirmed or MRI-confirmed CSDHs from 16 medical centers in China. These patients were originally recruited for the Oriental Neurosurgical Evidence-based Study Team (ONET) study. After informed consent is provided, patients are randomized to receive either atorvastatin (oral 20 mg/night for 8 weeks) or placebo (dextrin for 8 weeks); and followed for 16 weeks after the treatment. The primary outcome is the change in hematoma volume at the end of 8-week treatment. Secondary outcomes include: changes in 1) the hematoma volume at the 4(th), 12(th), and 24(th) weeks; 2) Markwalder's Grading Scale and Glasgow Coma Scale (MGS-GCS); 3) Glasgow Outcome Score (GOS) and 4) Activities of Daily Life-the Barthel Index scale (ADL-BI). Safety will be assessed during the study by monitoring adverse events, laboratory tests, electrocardiography (ECG), measurements of vital signs (temperature, pulse, and blood pressure) and body weight.DiscussionResults of this trial will provide critical information regarding whether atorvastatin is an effective and safe alternative to surgical treatment of CSDH.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov Identifier--NCT02024373 The date of trial registration: 7 August 2013.

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