Brain cooling and Stroke Recovery
Scientists in Brussels are now looking to set-up a European-wide trial on over 1,500 patients to test the effect of cold-therapy in the acute phase of stroke. The study would include hospitals in Scotland, Italy, Germany and France.
Hypothermia for Stroke: call to action
In January 2010, Dr Malcolm Macleod, head of experimental neuroscience at the Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences at the University of Edinburgh, took part in The European Hypothermia Stroke Research Workshop. The workshop’s major concern was to find a solution to the significant increase of stroke expected globally in the coming years.
Today, the only treatment for stroke in the acute-phase is the thrombolytic treatment (tpa), which only 10% of patients are eligible for. This is insufficient and there is a huge need for an efficacious and cost-effective therapy, which could help a greater proportion of stroke victims in the hours following their stroke. The participants adopted a Call to Action on Hypothermia for Stroke: the goal was to set-up a clinical study program to test brain-cooling as a treatment for stroke. This clinical study might well be on the way.
Testing brain-cooling
Dr Macleod believes cold-therapy can dramatically improve outcome of stroke, hopefully in both ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes. Previous studies have already shown hypothermia improves survival rate after heart-attacks. Recent findings from the University of Edinburgh also suggest that brain-cooling would give more time for doctors to treat strokes.
By lowering body temperature by just a few degrees (through cold intravenous fluids and cooling pads), scientists believe they can protect brain cells from damage. The idea is to put the brain in a state of hibernation to reduce its need for nutrients and oxygen, allowing neurons to survive longer during the blood-deprivation.
The procedure is still controversial however, and further research is needed. If effective, Dr Macleod believes brain-cooling could help 40,000 patients each year in Europe alone.
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