Lancet neurology
-
Alteplase is currently the only approved thrombolytic agent for treatment of acute ischaemic stroke, but interest is burgeoning in the development of new thrombolytic agents for systemic reperfusion with an improved safety profile, increased efficacy, and convenient delivery. Tenecteplase has emerged as a potential alternative thrombolytic agent that might be preferred over alteplase because of its ease of administration and reported efficacy in patients with large vessel occlusion. Ongoing research efforts are also looking at potential improvements in recanalisation with the use of adjunct therapies to intravenous thrombolysis. ⋯ Other research endeavors are looking at the use of intra-arterial thrombolysis after mechanical thrombectomy to induce tissue reperfusion. The growing implementation of mobile stroke units and advanced neuroimaging could boost the number of patients who can receive intravenous thrombolysis by shortening onset-to-treatment times and identifying patients with salvageable penumbra. Continued improvements in this area will be essential to facilitate the ongoing research endeavors and to improve delivery of new interventions.
-
Tauopathies are a heterogeneous group of neurodegenerative disorders that are characterised by the aggregation of the microtubule-associated protein tau into filamentous inclusions within neurons and glia. Alzheimer's disease is the most prevalent tauopathy. ⋯ Tau pathology can independently arise secondary to a range of triggers that are each associated with inflammatory processes, including infection, repetitive mild traumatic brain injury, seizure activity, and autoimmune disease. A greater understanding of the chronic effects of inflammation on the development and progression of tauopathies could help forge a path for the establishment of effective immunomodulatory disease-modifying interventions for clinical use.