Stroke Treatment Progress

Stroke Treatment Progress

Not the big one in the news! The Melbourne researchers have shown that blood supply can be increased by pushing a catheter to the stroke site and then pushing an enclosed stent which will clasp remaining clot material and bring it back to the catheter, all of which is to the benefit of the patient making an improved recovery.

Now, this is a high tec. solution – in the finicky nature of the work and the ready availability of the highly trained specialists, all of which will mitigate against its general use. I could be wrong.

Changing tack.

Why was such a toxic liquid as Alteplase chosen to liquefy compressed blood materials? General articles have reported its use for five+ years – long enough for change or replacement, but not seen.

As a lay person, I think there is a chemical change between Alteplase and blood clots, forming a neutral sludge which the now free artery dumps through the vascular system.

But, as we know, some part of the clot is left behind, attached to the blood vessel wall. Any further injection is out of the question because it will race through the new opening with little contact with the remaining clot materials and cause damage.

So what to do? Every problem has a solution. In this case it is very simple. Provide a small degree of stickiness to the Alteplase solution so that it clings to the stroke material till the chemical progress is complete leaving bare artery walls and sludge to pump away. Simple, neutral products such as oat flour? Bench test with volunteer animals.

P.S. I would never induce stroke into an animal for research. The blood collected from sheep would be tested in plastic pipes on bench top with modified Alteplase. The sheep would be fed a special meal and released into their paddock.

Angus