(Iowa City) — Researchers at the University of Iowa are using one of the body’s naturally occurring waste products to treat strokes, which may reduce damage.
uric acid It is a natural biological component of human blood that improves the flow of small blood vessels and reduces brain damage by neutralizing chemicals produced during a stroke. However, during a stroke, the body uses up uric acid so quickly that not enough remains in the bloodstream to completely prevent brain damage.
Dr. Enrique Leila, Professor of Vascular Neurology at the University of Iowa, said: research The leader said scientists are pushing uric acid back into the bloodstream to block something called oxidative stress.
“We know that uric acid in humans can help solve this problem, but it’s not enough,” Layla explained. “Therefore, the rationale is to provide additional uric acid intravenously to block oxidative stress in patients undergoing acute stroke.”
A large-scale clinical trial, with the support of the National Institutes of Health, will be next, Layla said, in which doctors will completely unblock blood vessels in stroke patients, allowing them to experience potential stroke-induced complications. “We hope that we can further limit the damage caused,” he said.
Leila said using uric acid to protect brain tissue during a stroke could make standard treatments to remove blood clots even more effective, especially in rural areas where treatment is scarce. pointed out that there is It has the potential to save more lives in underserved areas and stop major problems.
“There are 800,000 strokes in the United States each year, and it’s the leading cause of disability,” Leila stressed. “In addition to widening patients’ arteries with procedures we can do today, we need chemical and medical treatments that can improve outcomes and reduce disability in these patients.”
Stroke is also one of the leading causes of death in the United States, and prompt treatment often means it can protect brain cells, improve patient outcomes and potentially save lives, Leila said. rice field.