A blood-thinning drug helped more stroke patients recover after clot removal
After doctors pulled a blood clot from a stroke patient's brain, adding a drug called tirofiban helped more people return to living independently. In a trial of 1,380 people, 49% on the drug were independent after three months, versus 43% on a dummy treatment.
Why it matters
A stroke happens when a clot blocks blood flow in the brain. Doctors can remove the clot, but many patients still end up disabled. This trial suggests a cheap, known drug could help more people walk, talk, and care for themselves again. But there is a real trade-off: slightly more people on the drug had brain bleeding, so doctors must weigh the benefit against that risk for each person.
Who's behind it: Hao Huang, Xiang Luo and colleagues, Tongji Hospital, Wuhan, China. Funded by the Tongji Hospital Clinical Research Fund.
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