Why Is This Stroke Drug So Dangerous?

jerry submitted, created time 4 months 3 weeks (sciencenow.sciencemag.org)

A stroke drug known as tPA, or tissue plasminogen activator, has been a lightning rod since it was first approved in the United States in 1996. Although studies have found that the drug can reduce the brain damage wrought by strokes, it can also cause potentially fatal bouts of cerebral bleeding. Now a team of researchers has identified one reason for tPA's ill effect. And it turns out that in mice, the problem can be eased by administering a cancer drug.

Keywords: brain plasminogen tPa stroke