Protective Evidence of Clarithromycin after Ischemic Cerebral Injury; an Experimental Study

Objective: Acute ischemic stroke is caused by a reduction in cerebral blood flow, leading to brain ischemic and subsequent cell death. The therapeutic options available for this condition are limited. The inflammatory response associated with the ischemic injury may influence the outcomes of ischemic stroke. Clarithromycin is a widely used antibiotic in medical practice. This study aimed to investigate the effect of clarithromycin on brain ischemic injury. Methods: In this study, 38 Sprague Dawley female rats were used and divided into four main groups: the pure control group, the ischemia group, the sham/control group, and the ischemic+claritromycin group. A temporary clip was placed in the bilateral carotid arteries of rats for 45 minutes. One group administered a dose of clarithromycin, and the tissue and blood samples of all four groups underwent biochemical evaluation. The results were subjected to statistical analysis. Results: The administration of clarithromycin to animals resulted in a reduction in malondialdehyde levels in brain tissues within the study group. Furthermore, Bederson's motor scores were observed to be higher in the clarithromycin-treated group in comparison to the ischemia group (p=0.092). Conclusion: A potential correlation exists between post-stroke infections and prognosis, suggesting that prophylactic antibiotic treatment may be beneficial. This study indicates that clarithromycin exerts a neuroprotective effect on cerebral ischemic injury following a stroke.