The Biochemical, Histopathological and Clinical Comparison of the Neuroprotective Effects of Subcutaneous Adalimumab and Intravenous Methylprednisolone in an Experimental Compressive Spinal Cord Trauma Model.

AIM To evaluate the neuroprotective effects of adalimumab in an experimental spinal cord injury model and compare them with those of the widely-used methylprednisolone. MATERIAL AND METHODS Forty male Wistar rats were divided into 5 as the sham, trauma, adalimumab, methylprednisolone, and adalimumab+methylprednisolone groups. Only laminectomy was performed in the sham group. Laminectomy and trauma was performed to the trauma group but no treatment was given. A single dose of 40 mg/kg subcutaneous adalimumab was administered after the laminectomy and trauma to group 3. A single dose of intravenous 30 mg/kg methylprednisolone was administered right after laminectomy and trauma to group 4. Single doses of 40 mg/kg adalimumab and 30 mg/kg methylprednisolone were administered together after laminectomy and trauma to group 5. Serum malondialdehyde (MDA), TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 levels were measured and sections were obtained for histopathological study at the end of the 7 < sup > th < /sup > day. RESULTS MDA, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 levels in serum were significantly decreased in the adalimumab group with clinical and histopathological improvement not less than the methylprednisolone group. The serum MDA levels were similar when the two drugs were given together or separately but there was a statistically quite significant decrease in TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 levels with concurrent use. Statistically significantly better results were obtained on histopathological evaluation with the use of both drugs together. CONCLUSION This study revealed that adalimumab is as effective as methylprednisolone in compressive spinal cord injury in rats.