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Health See other Health Articles Title: Simple injection reduces tissue damage from heart attack, stroke In a ground breaking research that heralds hope for patients with cardiovascular diseases, scientists have discovered a simple shot can alleviate the negative consequences from a heart attack or stroke. A team of international researchers developed an injectable drug that cuts the potential damage to the heart and brain tissues after an attack by a staggering 60 percent. Lead author of the study, Professor Wilhelm Schwaeble, of Leicester University's department of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation stated, "This is a fascinating new achievement in the search for novel treatments to significantly reduce the tissue damage and impaired organ function that occur following ischaemia in widespread and serious conditions such as heart attacks and strokes. "This new potential therapy was also shown in animals to significantly improve outcomes of transplant surgery and may be applicable to any surgical procedure where tissue viability is at risk due to temporary interruption of blood flow." Serious tissue damage A heart attack or stroke is caused because of disrupted blood flow from a clot or bleed which deprives the body organs of life giving oxygen. This causes serious inflammatory tissue damage in brain and heart muscles post heart attack and stroke. According to experts, the worst damage occurs when circulation begins again. At this stage the body's defences attack the oxygen-deprived cells causing considerable inflammation and can lead to 80percent irreversible damage. New antibody developed The investigators first identified the enzyme, called Mannan Binding Lectin-Associated Serine Protease-2 (MASP-2) that plays a key role in the immune attack. Following the discovery, the scientists developed an antibody that inhibits the body from attacking the oxygen starved cells. The antibody which can be administered up to 12 hours of the attack allows the cells to be oxygenated and thereby limits the damage to the tissue significantly. According to experts, just two shots of the antibody in the first week are required to neutralize the activity of the enzyme MASP-2. Prof Wilhelm stated, "This is potentially the biggest breakthrough in the treatment of heart attacks and strokes ever. "We could not believe what we saw and nor could the cardiologists. What is amazing is that the drug can be given so long after the attack.” Human trials on the horizon The injection has been tested on animals and exhibited promising results. The injectable antibody led to significantly less damage to the tissues. The next step is to translate the animal trials into clinical therapies. The researchers are hoping to conduct the first clinical trials of the human antibody in people who have had heart attacks in the Leicester Biomedical Research Unit, at Glenfield Hospital, Leicester within the next two years. The findings of the study are is published in the early online edition of the 'Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences' (PNAS).
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#1. To: Tatarewicz (#0)
Amazing stuff.
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