A blood-thinning drug helps more stroke patients recover after clot removal
When doctors pull a blood clot out of a stroke patient's brain, adding an anti-clotting drug called tirofiban helped more people walk and live independently three months later. In a trial of 1,380 patients, 49% recovered well with the drug versus 43% with a fake treatment.
Why it matters
Stroke is one of the world's leading causes of disability. Even after doctors remove the clot blocking blood flow to the brain, many patients still cannot care for themselves afterwards. This trial suggests a cheap, already-available drug can noticeably improve those odds. Brain bleeding was slightly more common with the drug though not by a clear margin, so doctors will need to weigh that risk case by case.
Who's behind it: Hao Huang and colleagues, Tongji Hospital and 81 other hospitals across China. Funded by the Tongji Hospital Clinical Research Fund.
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