Seconds save lives: New trial for diagnosing stroke

Stroke is a leading cause of death for Americans. Every 40 seconds, someone will suffer from one.

Now, doctors are testing another drug to help people who suffer a different kind of stroke that floods the brain with blood.

When a person is having a stroke, every minute, every second, counts.

It’s a race against the clock to save brain cells and save lives. Neurologist Joseph Broderick has been running that race for almost 40 years.

“I arrived at the University of Cincinnati in 1987, and we treated the first patient with TPA in the world in 1987,” Broderick said.

TAV has been very successful at stopping damage in ischemic strokes, and now Doctor Broderick is working on a way to stop brain bleeds after a stroke.

Broderick is leading a global study on a drug that has been used for decades to help hemophiliac’s blood to clot. Recombinant factor 7-A helps stop bleeding in the brain.

“We looked at people who were within the very early time windows within the first couple hours after onset. That’s when the drug seemed to have its greatest benefit,” Broderick said.

One way they are getting to patients faster is this mobile stroke unit, where brain images can be taken on the spot and the drug given en route to the hospital.

“We wanted to make sure we could treat people within two hours,” Broderick said.

Broderick said due to the time limitations, the trial will also engage in a practice known as “exception from informed consent.”

That means the FDA has given permission to give treatment quickly, even without the consent of the patient or family member.

The trial will enroll more than 800 patients in 100 cities across the U.S., Japan, Canada and Europe.