ABSTRACT
Background: Alfaxalone is a fast acting intravenous anaesthetic with high therapeutic index. It is an analogue of the naturally-occurring neurosteroid allopregnanolone responsible for maintenance of cognition and neuroprotection by activation of brain pregnane X receptors and consequent increased production of mature brain-derived neurotrophic factor (m-BDNF). Two studies are reported here: an in vitro study investigated whether alfaxalone activates human pregnane X receptors (h-PXR) as effectively as allopregnanolone; and a clinical study that measured postoperative changes in serum m-BDNF and cognition in patients after alfaxalone anaesthesia compared with propofol and sevoflurane.
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Date of publication: 24 December 2022; BMC Anesthesiology
Author information: Juliet M Serrao (1), Colin S Goodchild (1)
(1) Drawbridge Pharmaceuticals P/L, 23 Milton Parade, Malvern, Victoria, 3144, Australia