Mild hypothermia of 34degreesC reduces side effects of rt-PA treatment after thromboembolic stroke in rats
Clinical Trials Friday, March 16th, 2012Etsmjournal.com: Bernd Kallmunzer, Stefan Schwab and Rainer Kollmar – March 7, 2012.
Abstract (provisional)
Background
Hypothermia is neuroprotective in experimental stroke and may extend the so far limited therapeutic time window for thrombolysis. Therefore, hypothermia of 34degreesC and its effects on delayed thrombolysis including reperfusion-associated injury were investigated in a model of thromboembolic stroke (TE).
Methods
Male Wistar rats (n=48) were subjected to TE. The following treatment groups were investigated: control group – normothermia (37degreesC); thrombolysis group – rt-PA 90 min after TE; hypothermia by 34degreesC applied 1.5 to 5 hours after TE; combination therapy- hypothermia and rt-PA. After 24 hours infarct size, brain edema and neuroscore were assessed. Protein markers for inflammation and adhesion, gelatinase activity, and blood brain barrier (BBB) disruption were determined. MRI-measurements investigated infarct evolution and blood flow parameters. Read More
