Coenzyme Q10 combined with mild hypothermia after cardiac arrest: a preliminary study

Circulation. 2004 Nov 9;110(19):3011-6. doi: 10.1161/01.CIR.0000146894.45533.C2. Epub 2004 Nov 1.

Abstract

Background: Therapeutic hypothermia can improve survival after cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) has shown a protective effect in neurodegenerative disorders. We investigated whether combining mild hypothermia with CoQ10 after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest provides additional benefit.

Methods and results: Forty-nine patients were randomly assigned to either hypothermia plus CoQ10 or hypothermia plus placebo after CPR. Hypothermia with a core temperature of 35 degrees C was instituted for 24 hours. Liquid CoQ10 250 mg followed by 150 mg TID for 5 days or placebo was administered through nasogastric tube. Age, sex, premorbidity, cause of arrest, conditions of CPR, and degree of hypoxia were similar in both groups; no side effects of CoQ10 were identified. Three-month survival in the CoQ10 group was 68% (17 of 25) and 29% (7 of 24) in the placebo group (P=0.0413). Nine CoQ10 patients versus 5 placebo patients survived with a Glasgow Outcome Scale of 4 or 5. Mean serum S100 protein 24 hours after CPR was significantly lower in the CoQ10 group (0.47 versus 3.5 ng/mL).

Conclusions: Combining CoQ10 with mild hypothermia immediately after CPR appears to improve survival and may improve neurological outcome in survivors.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Biomarkers
  • Brain Damage, Chronic / blood
  • Brain Damage, Chronic / etiology
  • Brain Damage, Chronic / prevention & control
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Electroencephalography
  • Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory
  • Female
  • Glasgow Outcome Scale
  • Heart Arrest / complications
  • Heart Arrest / drug therapy
  • Heart Arrest / mortality
  • Heart Arrest / therapy*
  • Humans
  • Hypothermia, Induced*
  • Life Tables
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • S100 Proteins / blood
  • Single-Blind Method
  • Survival Analysis
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Ubiquinone / administration & dosage
  • Ubiquinone / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • S100 Proteins
  • Ubiquinone