New treatment for brain injuries being tested at SAMMC

Hoping to finally have a useful treatment to offer for serious head injuries, doctors at San Antonio Military Medical Center will begin today giving the hormone progesterone to many patients.

SAMMC, one of the region's two Level 1 trauma centers, is taking part in a national federally funded study of progesterone in patients with moderate to severe brain injuries.

For the last 30 years, there have been a lot of drug trials, and every one of them has failed. There's a lot of hope with this, said Col. Randall McCafferty, chief of neurosurgery at SAMMC.

Progesterone is mostly known as a female reproductive hormone, but men's bodies also produce some. And in the brain, it works the same in men and women: reducing swelling, inflammation and cell death. Smaller studies have shown the treatment cuts the risk of death by half.

Because many brain-injured patients are unable to give permission to take part in the study, under federal law, people can opt out in advance by calling 210-916-1827 or going online to http://www.protectiii.com.

While the military is interested in a better treatment for head injuries, which are common on the battlefield, most San Antonio-area patients are likely to be civilians, McCafferty said.

The drug must be given within four hours of the injury. With the time required for evaluation and medical tests, patients need to be seen at the hospital within about two hours and forty-five minutes after injury.

Doctors will first try to get permission either from the patient or family members.

Earlier studies have found the treatment safe, but side effects can include blood clots and elevated liver enzymes.

It also contains an egg product that could cause a reaction in those allergic to eggs.

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New treatment for brain injuries being tested at SAMMC