Stroke drug usage rises, but 'not enough'RSS Feed

The use of a clot-busting drug used to decrease the likelihood of the brain injury, which can cause disability after a stroke, has risen in the US.

A University of Cincinnati study projects that between 23,800 and 36,000 US patients were given rtPA treatment in 2009, which compares to between 10,800 to 12,600 in 2004.

However, lead author Opeolu Adeoye said that treatment rates remain relatively low. He explained that this is because many patients are not admitted to hospital in time to receive the drug.

Mr Adeoye continued that "the biggest thing" is ensuring patients reach the hospital within the required time frame when the drug can still help them.

"We need to help educate the public on rapid recognition of stroke symptoms and improve transportation rates to stroke-ready hospitals," he said.

This comes after a new treatment combining minimally invasive surgery and clot-busting drug t-PA, was used to dissolve blood clots in the brain, possibly reducing the brain injury caused by the condition, according to research from John Hopkins University.

News brought to you by Serious Law specialists in brain injury

Posted by Paul Breen
 

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