A team led by LMU researcher Professor Nikolaus Plesnila has now shown, in an animal model, that inhalation of nitric oxide (NO), a chemical compound which is itself toxic, can improve perfusion of the brain in the aftermath of an acute stroke. Brain function in treated animals was significantly improved as compared to in controls that had not been given NO.
"In collaboration with colleagues at Harvard Medical School, we have just begun to test whether or not NO has a comparable effect in humans. If so, we could then initiate a full-scale international clinical study," says Plesnila. "If such a trial were successful, the new therapy could be introduced into the clinic very quickly. NO is already widely used for the management of several lung diseases, and could even be administered as required in ambulances and other rescue vehicles."
Inhalation of Nitric Oxide Prevents Ischemic Brain Damage in Experimental, Stroke by Selective Dilatation of Collateral Arterioles, N.A. Terpolilli et al. Circulation Research, 2012; 110:727-738, doi:10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.111.253419