NPR: Antibiotic May Enlarge Window for Stroke Treatment

Antibiotic May Enlarge Window for Stroke Treatment

Both my grandfather and my father had strokes in the last years of their lives, so I've seen up close how debilitating they can be. Now, new research from Israel indicates that an antibiotic may help decrease the damage.

The Los Angeles Times reports that Israeli researchers have found that "administering the antibiotic minocycline within 24 hours after a stroke significantly reduces brain damage and physical impairment." Minocycline is widely used to combat acne.

Clot-dissolving drugs currently used to treat strokes must be administered within the first three hours to help reduce the effects, and many patients just don't get them in time. If the Israeli team's research can be reproduced, it would greatly enlarge the "golden window" during which strokes can be treated.

The findings have nothing to do with infections, even though the drug is an antibiotic. Rather, the drug's anti-inflammatory properties may block damage to neurons from toxins released when other brain cells die, said Dr. Raymond A. Swanson of UC San Francisco.

The study is in the latest issue of Neurology.

1:54 PM ET | 10- 2-2007 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

I am not sure how this might help the overweight Americans. Being inactive, obese or both can increase your risk of high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease and stroke.

Sent by Filomeni | 4:37 PM ET | 10-02-2007

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