Stemming the effects of heart attack and stroke
Heart attacks and strokes cause around half of all deaths in developed countries. They strike when the blood supply to the heart or brain is cut off. Scientists led by Professor Mark Pepys at University College London have previously shown that stroke and heart attack damage is compounded by a molecule known as C-reactive protein. It is produced and circulates through the blood stream in response to the injury. Now, Professor Pepys’s team has designed a new agent that is bound by C-reactive protein and stops it from doing damage. “If it is approved for use, it should reduce the severity of heart attacks and strokes, leading to improved survival,” said Professor Pepys. The next step is to develop the compound as a drug for regulatory approval and clinical use.
Nature 2006; 440: 1217-1221