Drug Could Stop Spinal Injuries, Researchers Say

[steven johnson]

Here is an interesting possible treatment for spinal cord injury which up until now has been very hard to manage.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Shutting off a single gene can help stop the cascade of damage that can paralyze people with spinal cord injuries, U.S. researchers reported on Wednesday.

When the spinal cord or brain is injured, the capillaries can burst, bringing in an overwhelming wave of chemicals called inflammatory factors that are meant to heal but that often worsen the damage. This is why stroke patients do not always show immediate symptoms but can worsen in the hours afterwards.

Glyburide is already in Phase I safety trials for treating traumatic brain injury and stroke, Simard said.

The potential market is large. "Worldwide, the incidence of spinal cord injury ranges from 10 to 83 per million people per year," Simard's team wrote.

Drug Could Stop Spinal Injuries, Researchers Say

[Warpy]

1. Interesting that an anti diabetic drug would have that property

Large doses of steroids to suppress inflammation haven't worked.

[roguevalley]

2. I hope this works and comes out soon and the side effects are

minimal.