Clot busters like r-tpa and free radical salvage scavengers are some of the latest drugs to controlling fatalities in stroke. There are many pharma companies exploring molecules which are presently undergoing phase-3 and 4 trials globally. Most of them are compounds directly involved with selective clot dissolution or decreasing the area of brain damage.
In addition to antiplatelets and anticoagulants, there are a plethora of neuro-protective drugs being used based on the Japanese and European data available. These drugs are available at all hospitals in the metro cities and the cost is reasonable, keeping in mind the cost incurred consequential to a crippled stroke patient, stated Dr Varadarajulu, senior consultant neurologist, Baptist Hospital.
Most clinical trials are carried out under the aegis of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and the National Institute of Health are focusing on the need to control the brain damage, he added.
On the World Stroke Day observed globally on October 29, neurologists and neuro surgeons are insisting on the need to rush stroke victims to the medical centres within the golden hour. In this regard, there is massive effort planned to educate the paramedics and the public about the immediate medical attention required to prevent a fatality. The neuro specialists are looking to carry out a ‘ticking brain campaign’ which recommends proper diet, regular check-up and early recognition of stroke as morbidity can be prevented. “The need of the hour is to open dedicated government centres for stroke management at district hospitals and expand its reach in the metros. Each zone in the city will need at least one centre for brain excellence, pointed out Dr Varadarajulu.
Stroke is the third most common cause of death, after cancer and ischemic heart disease. It is also the most prominent cause of physical deformity in India. According to the All Indian Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) one fourth of patients suffering from brain stroke in the country occur among the youth. The key causes are erratic lifestyle resulting in disorders like diabetics, high cholesterol and hypertension. Further, the smoking and pollution also contribute to the narrowing and blocking blood vessels in the body. Young people usually ignore warning signs like dizziness, sudden weakness in limbs and difficulty in speaking or understanding words. These are symptoms of a transient ischemic stroke (TIA) or a temporary stroke.
Stroke has a yearly incidence of 180-300 per 100,000, in the United States. Its incidence is accelerating in developing countries due to unhealthy lifestyles. Around 1/5 of the victims die within a month of its occurrence. Half the survivors become physically deformed. A damage in the left side of the brain may result in paralysis of the right side of the body; a damage on the right side, paralyzes the left side. Hypertension accounts for 30 to 50 per cent of stroke risk. Patients with diabetes mellitus are two to three times more predisposed to stroke. Stroke can occur due to a disruption in blood supply or due to a blood vessel damage, according to neurologists.