Researchers testing new stroke treatment
Risk of death cut 30 per cent, trials show. Hemophilia medication offers
hope of effective way to stop bleeding in brain

MICHELLE LANG
CanWest News Service


June 8, 2005


Researchers are testing a treatment that could become the first-ever
therapy for a deadly form of stroke, as part of an international study
on the drug.

Early research suggests the therapy, traditionally used to treat the
bleeding disorder hemophilia, can also halt bleeding in the brain - a
type of stroke that kills four out of every 10 victims within a month.

A recent trial on the drug, called recombinant Factor Vlla,  seven  A,
suggested it cut the risk of death by 30 per cent, offering hope of an
effective way to stop bleeding in the brain.

Last February, research published in the New England Journal of Medicine
suggested the hemophilia drug can act as a powerful clotter for victims
of intracerebral hemorrhage, shutting down bleeding in many cases.

The Columbia University-led research - which included trials in Calgary
and other locations around the world - found at least one more patient
in 10 fully recovered from their stroke.

http://cumc.columbia.edu/dept/stroke/stroke/

Researchers found, however, it can have serious side effects, such as
blood clotting in other parts of the body and possibly leading to heart
attacks or another type of stroke.

Calgary patients will again participate in trials of the therapy in
coming weeks as the study enters its second major phase before the drug
can be approved for stroke treatment.

C The Gazette (Montreal) 2005








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