Microbubbles, ultrasound used to destroy clots in stroke patients
An investigational drug containing microscopic bubbles combined with saline may improve the break down of blood clots in the brain when combined with an ultrasound and standard treatment. Researchers at the Eddy Scurlock Stroke Center are applying this investigational treatment to stroke patients who receive tissue plasminogen activator, or tPA, the only FDA-approved treatment for stroke. After the microbubbles are injected, a series of high-energy pulses from an ultrasound causes the microbubbles to burst, thus breaking apart the clot.
Using transcranial Doppler ultrasound to activate the microscopic bubbles and help dissolve blood clots is a fairly new area in stroke treatment, according to Dr. David Chiu, principal investigator on this study and medical director of Methodist's Stroke Center. Research shows that ultrasound improves the effects of tPA, which, in turn, improves the rate of blood flow in the brain.
African-Americans have highest risk of stroke in the U.S.
African-Americans are more likely to suffer a stroke than any other ethnic group in the U.S., and they run twice the risk of first-ever strokes than Caucasians. The reasons are unclear, but some risk factors include a higher rate of high blood pressure and diabetes in this group. African-Americans also have a higher incidence than Caucasians of obesity and smoking, two risk factors for stroke.
Other risk factors, such as family history, age, and having a previous stroke also put people at higher risk. Physicians and stroke educators at the Eddy Scurlock Stroke Center in the Methodist Neurological Institute say people can decrease their risk of having a stroke by eating a healthy diet, exercising, knowing their blood pressure, and quitting smoking.
(NOTE: Patient interviews available upon request)
Therapeutic stroke treatment targets insulin resistance in non-diabetic patients
Studies have shown that diabetics have a three times greater risk of stroke than non-diabetics. The Eddy Scurlock Stroke Center in the Methodist Neurological Institute is the only Houston site investigating the effectiveness of a drug for prevention of recurring stroke and heart attack among non-diabetic men and women who recently had a stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA), or mini-stroke, and insulin resistance. Dr. James Ling, a neurologist at the Stroke Center, and his researchers believe that treatment of insulin resistance may reduce the incidence of stroke and heart attack.
Insulin resistance is a common condition that affects about one out of every four Americans. On average, 25 percent of patients who survive an initial stroke will have a recurrent stroke within five years.
Insulin Resistance Intervention after Stroke (IRIS) is one of the largest trials ever funded by the National Institutes of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
Women and stroke
Although cardiovascular disease, including stroke, has generally been thought of as a man's disease, more women suffer strokes than men, and their mortality rate is higher. Women account for more than 60 percent of stroke deaths. Education and awareness are keys to helping reduce the incidence of stroke in women, according to Jan Flewelling, Stroke Outreach Program Coordinator at the Eddy Scurlock Stroke Center.
While women need to be aware of the common risk factors for stroke " high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol - some gender specific risks can also alter a woman's chances of suffering a stroke. Women who suffer from migraines with visual aura have a significantly higher risk of ischemic stroke. Brain aneurysms, one of the causes of hemorrhagic strokes, are more prevalent in women.
Autoimmune diseases, including diabetes and lupus, are more prevalent in women and also contribute to the risk of stroke. Birth control pills are linked to increased blood clots, a contributing factor to stroke that can be worsened by cigarette smoking and increasing age. Hormonal changes during menopause also contribute to rising cholesterol levels in women. Also, ethnicity also plays a role in a woman's chances of suffering stroke. African-American and Latino women tend to be at higher risk of stroke.
(NOTE: Patient interviews available upon request)
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