Update Information on Locked-In Syndrome, Drug Therapy and Comprehensive Review
Author(s): Lourdes de Fatima Ibanez Valdes, Humberto Foyaca Sibat*
Abstract
Introduction: Locked?in Syndrome (LIS) is characterised by anarthria, cranial nerve palsies, and quadriplegia, with a normal level of consciousness, awareness without cognitive decline, regular eyelid movements, preserved vertical gaze movements, hearing, and proper breathing. In patients with LIS, cognitive function may be affected, depending on the nature of the lesion; the brainstem is the most common post?injury site, while awareness and arousal remain intact.
Objectives: This comprehended literature study aimed to search for studies related with the emerging and novel therapies for LIS.
Methods: We search the EMBASE, Scopus, and Medline, databases, to identify case reports, case series, clinical trials in patients of any sex, race, age, or ethnicity who received any approved or experimental treatment for LIS. From 01st, January 2013 to 30th, September 2025, we searched the medical literature, following the PRISMA guidelines. the authors searched the scientific databases, Scopus, Embassy, Medline, and PubMed Central using the following searches: “Locked?in syndrome” OR “Legal rights” OR “Legal implications” OR “Aetiology LIS” OR “Pathogenesis of LIS”, OR “Assessment of consciousness” OR “Communication methods” OR “Communication abilities” OR “Assessment of consciousness” OR “Emerging invasive communication methods” OR “Brain?computer interfaces” OR “Drug therapy”.
Results: After screening the publications for relevance, n=649 qualified articles were identified. Included for the first screen n=6. Records after duplicates removed n=384, record included for full?test review n=265. Excluded by full?test review n=97 studies. Additional reports after search by identified references (covering 77 studies) n=9. No article proposing a therapeutic drug for LIS as found when we searched. Therefore, meta?analysis was not done.
Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first review done proposing an update drug therapy program for LIS based on previous results obtained from Mc therapy modalities.