Evolving toward effective therapy for acute ischemic stroke
Article Abstract:
It has been difficult to find an effective treatment for patients who have had an ischemic stroke. An ischemic stroke occurs when a blood clot blocks the blood supply to an area of the brain. Different treatments that have been used unsuccessfully in the past include corticosteroids, barbiturates and hemodilution therapy. New treatments are being evaluated in research studies using human volunteers. These include thrombolytic and cytoprotective therapies. Thrombolytic therapy is treatment with different drugs that break up or dissolve blood clots. Cytoprotective therapy involves treatment with drugs to reduce tissue injury. In the future, physicians may be able to use new types of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to examine brain lesions in stroke patients. They would also be able to evaluate blood flow to damaged areas of the brain using this technology.
Publication Name: JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0098-7484
Year: 1993
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Further evolution toward effective therapy for acute ischemic stroke
Article Abstract:
Research on stroke has led to treatments that may benefit some stroke patients. Tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) has been approved for some patients provided the drug can be administered within three hours of stroke onset. This drug breaks up blood clots that are the cause of most strokes. However, only about 5% of stroke patients may benefit from this treatment and the drug can cause bleeding. Animal studies have shown that some drugs such as calcium channel blockers, antioxidants and fibroblast growth factor may protect the brain from being damaged by a stroke.
Publication Name: JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0098-7484
Year: 1998
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New magnetic resonance techniques for acute ischemic stroke
Article Abstract:
New noninvasive magnetic resonance imaging techniques may allow an in vivo evaluation of ischemic stroke soon after onset. Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), perfusion imaging (PI), and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) all appear to offer hope in providing a more specific diagnosis. Diffusion-weighted imaging may aid in pinpointing the location and extent of the stroke lesion. Perfusion imaging can assess blood flow in the brain. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy may assist by measuring biochemical aspects of the stroke.
Publication Name: JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0098-7484
Year: 1995
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