Drug could offer hope for brain bleeding and stroke patients

A drug treatment, already approved for use in patients, could offer new hope for people with brain bleeding and strokes.

New research, led by the University of Glasgow and published in Human Molecular Genetics, has shown that the compound sodium phenyl butyric acid could be used to reduce brain bleeding which can cause strokes when it is caused by a defect in a gene called collagen IV.

Mutations in these genes cause a form of eye, kidney and vascular disease which affects the blood vessels in the brain and can cause brain bleeding, even in childhood.

The researchers, which included collaborators from the universities of Manchester and Edinburgh, studied mice that have a similar defect in the collagen IV gene and develop the same disease as patients. Using sodium phenyl butyric acid they were able to reduce brain bleeding.

However, the treatment did not treat either the eye or kidney disease associated with these genetic defects. As a result, the researchers believe that for future treatments, patients with these mutations will need to be divided into groups based on their symptoms and medical history, and the mechanism that causes the disease.

Scientists believe that this precision medicine approach will allow for better, more targeted treatment for patients.

While these genetic forms of the disease are rare, the same gene has also been implicated in common forms of brain bleeding in the general population, potentially increasing the number of people that may ultimately benefit from this work. Further research is now required to understand how these mutations cause the disease in the different tissues so that strategies for treating all the clinical symptoms, including the eye and kidney disease, can be developed.

Research will also be developed to explore how, and if, a similar treatment strategy could be applied to humans with brain bleeding caused by these genetic alterations. Specific treatments that target brain bleeding, including common diseases such as haemorrhagic stroke that accounts for 15 per cent of adult stroke, are currently lacking.

Dr Tom Van Agtmael, from the University of Glasgow, said: “There are no treatments for diseases due to collagen IV mutations and brain bleeding.

“This work has identified a potential treatment strategy in mice and is the first step in translating this to patients.

“It will also help identify for which patients this strategy may be effective and for which patients it is not recommended or may be counter-indicative.” Equity Release may involve a home reversion plan or a lifetime mortgage, which is secured against your property. To understand the features and risks, ask for your personalised illustration. Any money released, plus accrued interest would be repaid upon death, or moving into long-term care.

This equity release service is provided by Age Partnership, who provide initial advice for free and without obligation. Only if you choose to proceed and your case completes would a fee of 1.95% of the amount released be payable (minimum £1,495).

Based on the number of Equity Release plans arranged from Oct - Dec 2017.