Synthetic platelets developed to treat spinal cord injuriesRSS Feed

18 December 2009

Researchers have developed synthetic platelets that have the potential to halt internal and external bleeding and may be used in patients suffering from head or spinal cord injuries.

The research, published in the journal Science Transitional Medicine, was led by Erin Lavik, a biomedical engineering professor at Case Western Reserve University.

Inspiration for the researchers came from studies that showed there are few treatments for soldiers with internal injuries and they decided to develop a treatment that medics can carry in their field packs.

Professor Lavik said: "The military has been phenomenal at developing technology to halt bleeding, but the technology has been effective only on external or compressible injuries."

"This could be a compliment to current therapies," she added.

In clinical trials, the platelets clotted wounds 25 per cent faster than those treated with recombinant factor VIIa, which is currently used to stem uncontrolled bleeding but is not used in patients with head or spinal cord injuries because of the risk of complications.

Earlier this week it was reported that a retired heart surgeon may have found a way of reducing brain injury that results from concussion.

Dr W Dudley Johnson is seeking funding to test different natural supplements and believes the correct combination could make the body's response to brain injury "less traumatic".

Serious Law, leading spinal cord injury solicitors. ADNFCR-2547-ID-19519811-ADNFCR