Test would be done on patients in aftermath of stroke Tells doctors if they can give drug to limit brain damage Could see five times more people receiving treatment
By Fiona Macrae Science Correspondent
PUBLISHED: 01:35 EST, 18 September 2012 | UPDATED: 03:26 EST, 18 September 2012
A simple blood test that could revolutionise the treatment of stroke patients has been devised by British scientists and could be available within months.
Given in the aftermath of a stroke, it will allow doctors to work out if patients are eligible for the only drug that can limit the damage to the brain.
This could lead to five times as many people receiving the vital treatment that can cut the odds of disability and increase the chances of being able to continue to live independently.
Blood test: Given in the aftermath of a stroke, it will allow doctors to work out if patients are eligible for the only drug that can limit the damage to the brain
It is estimated that an extra 15,000 stroke patients a year could benefit in the UK alone.
Doctors have just one drug they can use to break up the blood clots behind the most common form of stroke.
It works well but concerns about its ability to trigger brain bleeds, mean it only be given in the first three or four hours after suffering a stroke.
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Simple blood test could help 15,000 stroke sufferers and be available by the start of 2013