Neuroprotectant drug studied in ischemic stroke patients
An investigational drug may offer hope to acute stroke patients beyond the current three-hour window of opportunity. Physicians at The Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas, are overseeing a double-blind study of an experimental neuroprotective drug, called MP-124 that has proven effective in animal models. More than 70 patients in the United States and Canada will enroll in this study.
Stroke is the third leading cause of death in Americans, and about 780,000 people experience a new or recurrent stroke every year. Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is the only FDA-approved clot-busting drug to treat acute ischemic stroke patients, but it must be administered within three hours of the onset of stroke symptoms.
Stroke isn't just your grandparents' disease
Most people under the age of 45 never consider themselves at risk of experiencing a stroke. While two-thirds of strokes occur in people over 65 years of age, the other one-third happens mostly in younger adults. Some strokes can even occur in babies.
A stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain bursts or is clogged by a blood clot. The interruption of blood flow deprives the brain of oxygen and glucose, causing brain cells to die and injuring the brain. In many young stroke survivors, the cause is a hole in one of the walls of the heart, called a patent foramen ovale (PFO). Aside from PFOs, other causes of stroke in younger people include arterial dissections (an injury to the lining of the artery wall), drug abuse or arteriovenous malformations (AVMs).
F.A.S.T. recognition of stroke symptoms
Someone suffers a stroke every 40 seconds in the United States, and someone dies of a stroke every three to four minutes. According to experts at The Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas, many Americans often fail to recognize the symptoms in time to seek emergency medical attention. Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is the only FDA-approved clot-busting drug to treat acute ischemic stroke patients, but it must be administered within three hours of the onset of stroke symptoms.
Use the FAST method to assess stroke symptoms, and if you notice any of the following stroke warning signs, call 9-1-1 and ask emergency medical personnel to take the person to a hospital with a primary stroke center:
* Face - Does one side of the face droop? Ask the person to smile.* Arm - Does one arm drift downward? Ask the person to raise both arms. * Speech - Does their speech sound slurred or strange? Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase.* Time - If you observe any of these signs, it's time to call 9-1-1.
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 United States. The reasons are unclear, but some risk factors include an increased 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 experiencing a previous stroke also put people at higher risk. Physicians and stroke educators at The Methodist Hospital in Houston say people can decrease their risk of having a stroke by eating a healthy diet, exercising, knowing their blood pressure, and quitting smoking.
Devices facilitate gait training during stroke rehabilitation
Rehabilitation alone has limited effects for stroke survivors, but with newer technology, stroke survivors can have a second chance at rebuilding their strength and confidence to continue daily activities despite the effects of the neurological disease.
Many survivors undergoing rehabilitation at The Methodist Hospital in Houston use a partial weight-bearing system that promotes normal walking patterns by controlling balance and posture. Since the suspension system provides support for part of the patient's body weight, the device can help patients begin physical therapy earlier in the rehabilitation process. Other devices are worn on the patient's lower legs, allowing electrical stimulation to activate muscles and help raise the foot while walking. These devices can be used to counter foot drop and increase walking speed in patients recovering from stroke, as well as other neurological diseases like multiple sclerosis and brain injuries.
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