Table 4.
Summary of patient characteristic and treatment modality in selected studies.
| Characteristics | Included, n (%) |
|---|---|
| n, total patients in trials | 3974 |
| n, patients in NF group | 2445 (61.5%) |
| n, patients in placebo group | 1529 (38.5%) |
| Age at treatment, in years (NF group) | |
| Mean ± SD | 55.2 ± 10.4 |
| Diagnosis, n, patients | |
| ALS | 2090 (52.6%) |
| Diabetic polyneuropathy | 1113 (28%) |
| Retinitis pigmentosa | 266 (6.7%) |
| Obesity | 173 (4.4%) |
| Sudden deafness | 118 (3%) |
| Parkinson’s disease | 84 (2.1%) |
| Sciatica | 48 (1.2%) |
| Macular degeneration | 36 (0.9%) |
| Pressure ulcer of foot | 36 (0.9%) |
| Guillain–Barre syndrome | 10 (0.2%) |
| NF used, n, patients (NF group) | |
| CNTF | 1219 (49.9%) |
| NGF | 580 (23.7%) |
| IGF-I | 510 (20.9%) |
| GDNF | 91 (3.7%) |
| BDNF | 45 (1.8%) |
| Administration route, n, patients | |
| s/c | 3385 (85.2%) |
| Intraocular encapsulated implant | 302 (7.6%) |
| Intratympanic gelfoam infiltrated | 118 (3%) |
| ICV | 50 (1.3%) |
| Topical | 36 (0.9%) |
| Intraputamenal | 34 (0.9%) |
| Intrathecal | 25 (0.6%) |
| i/v | 24 (0.6%) |
| Administration type, n, patients | |
| Systemic | 3409 (85.8%) |
| Local | 565 (14.2%) |
| Duration of treatment | |
| >6 months | 2669 (67.2%) |
| 1–6 months | 1082 (27.2%) |
| <1 month | 105 (2.6%) |
| Unknown | 118 (3%) |
ALS: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; BDNF: brain derived neurotrophic factor; CNTF: ciliary neurotrophic factor; GDNF: glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor; icv: intracerebroventricular; IGF: insulin-like growth factor; i/v: intravenous; MSA: multiple system atrophy; N: number; NF: neurotrophic factor; NGF: nerve growth factor; SD: standard deviation; s/c: subcutaneous.