Playing It Cool in Stroke Research Vol.
Researchers hope to find an answer.
In the past, proponents cited animal experiments and anecdotal accounts from human patients showing that inducing hypothermia in those with acute stroke was effective in reducing the amount of brain damage. But at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference, the evidence started moving from theoretical to factual. Derk Krieger, MD, PhD, of the Section on Stroke and Intensive Care at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, presented preliminary efficacy data from a pilot study that suggests that moderate hypothermia may benefit patients with severe acute ischemic stroke. These patients all had severe strokes rated 15 or higher on the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale. Other inclusion criteria included receiving medical attention within 6 hours of onset of ischemia and lacking improvement after thrombolysis or attempted thrombolysis.