Mar
Yale-New Haven Hospital is participating in a phase III research study in which a drug derived from the venom of the Malayan pit viper is being tested for the treatment of stroke. This new investigative drug is known as ancrod, and is being tested in eligible patients who come to the hospital within six hours of the start of stroke symptoms.
Ancrod is an enzyme that is a potent, natural anticoagulant that helps restore blood flow. It accomplishes this by acting directly>Stroke Center is to raise the awareness of both providers and the public so that effective treatment can be delivered promptly," added Karin Nystrom, MSN, APRN, clinical coordinator of the stroke program at Yale-New Haven Hospital. "What people need to know, above all else, is that getting to the emergency room at once is the only way we can provide effective stroke treatment. As with a heart attack, time is of the essence. The more time goes by, the more damage occurs."