Around 52 hospitals in Spain are taking part in an initiative to gauge if any common inflammatory markers appear in the blood of people who have suffered a stroke recently. The MÍTICO study was presented at the IV International Meeting on Isquemic Ictus.
The study included patients from different Autonomous Communities and that had suffered a stroke one to three months previously. By means of periodical controls, a number of inflammation markers found in the plasma (interleucines, metalloproteases, fibronectines) were studied over a period of a year. "We know that that there are certain inflammation markers that can contribute to patients suffering from new strokes or other vascular events such as heart attack. In fact, those who have chronic mouth infections or inflammatory processes have a greater risk of repeating these illnesses", explains doctor José Castillo, coordinator of the MÍTICO project.A second objective of this work is to determine if the use of habitual pharmaceutical drugs in these patients (plaque antiagregants, antihypertensives, estatines) is also associated with a decrease in the inflammation markers analysed, i.e. what effect these treatments have on the inflammation markers. Doctor Castillo says that the conclusions of the study will be known in less than three months.
Another objective of the MÍTICO study is to find out the influence of the inflammation markers on the cognitive evolution of the patients. "The results will tell us up to what point the recurrence of new ictus events and inflammation markers condition the tendency to cognitive deterioration. Nevertheless, this will involve studies on many more patients in order to reach definitive conclusions", doctor Castillo pointed out.
Contact: Garazi Andonegi [email protected] 3-494-336-3040 Elhuyar Fundazioa Source: Eurekalert
