Discover a new molecule to treat stroke

2012/02/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Medikuntza

Researchers from the Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA) of the University of Navarra have discovered a molecule capable of eliminating the thrombi causing the stroke (MMP-10). The study, conducted in collaboration with researchers from the Caen Neuroscience Unit (France) and the University of Washington (USA), has been published in the journal Circulation.

Ischemic stroke is a vascular disease. It occurs when a clot appears in a major artery in the brain that prevents blood flow, suddenly causing a brain injury. According to the affected brain area, the symptoms can be very varied, with difficulty walking, dizziness, imbalance or loss of coordination, paralysis of the extremities and speech problems", explains José Antonio Páramo, director of the Laboratory of Atherosclerosis and Inflammation of the CIMA.

In the diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke, medications capable of eliminating this clot, such as t-PA, should be taken in time (in the first 4 hours after detecting symptoms). However, this drug is not exempt from side effects, i.e., risk of brain hemorrhage. "In our work, specifically in the work carried out in experimental models with ischemic stroke, we have found that the molecule MMP-10 is as effective as the conventional treatment to reduce the size of the infarction in addition, the risk of bleeding is 30 times lower. These results open up new opportunities for stroke patients," explains Josune Orbe, lead researcher in the study.

Now, combining the MMP-10 molecule and the traditional drug in small doses, studies have focused on studying whether the same effect is achieved but with fewer bleeding problems.