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Nature Medicine 14, 712 - 713 (2008)
doi:10.1038/nm0708-712
Imatinib buys time for brain after stroke
Peter Rieckmann1
- Peter Rieckmann is in the Division of Neurology, Brain Research Centre, University of British Columbia Hospital, 2211 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 2B5, Canada.
e-mail: prieckmann@brain.ubc.ca
Abstract
The most effective drug to treat acute ischemic stroke, tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), must be applied within three hours after symptom onset because of the risk of hemorrhage and other complications such as neurotoxicity. The anticancer drug imatinib (Gleevec) may help overcome these limitations by counteracting the ability of tPA to increase the permeability of the blood-brain barrier (pages 731–737).
If patients with ischemic stroke are fortunate, they may receive a dose of intravenous tPA within three hours after onset of symptoms. Mostly because of late referral to a stroke unit, up to 90% of patients don't get this drug1, which helps to lyse vessel-obstructing blood clots.
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RESEARCH
Activation of PDGF-CC by tissue plasminogen activator impairs blood-brain barrier integrity during ischemic strokeNature Medicine Article (01 Jul 2008)
