Raffinee, a free radical scavenger, in the treatment of subacute stage brain and spinal cord lesions: a case report.

This report presents the effects of the natural antioxidant formulation "Raffinee" in treatment of a case with subacute cerebellar hemorrhage and a case with subacute incomplete cervical cord injury. Four days after onset of cerebellar hemorrhage, the regimen started and ameliorated severe headache and dizziness within 3 days. Forty-five days after incomplete spinal cord injury with marked edema of cervical cord, the regimen started. Excellent motor and sensory function recovery were obtained within one month with remission of cord edema. The dosage of "Raffinee" is equivalent to 2,280,000 units of superoxide radical scavenging activity and 47,000 units of hydroxyl radical scavenging activity. Based on the secondary injury theory, superoxide and hydroxyl radical scavengers may have a valuable use in subacute central nervous system (CNS) lesions. Further larger scale of randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trials are indicated to verify the effect of "Raffinee" on subacute CNS lesions.