Laser therapy in acute stroke treatment.
Recent development of near infrared light therapy (NILT) as an acute stroke treatment is promising. In various preclinical animal stroke models, NILT has been shown to be effective in improving long-term stroke outcome. More importantly, NILT has a long postischemic therapeutic window that has not been previously observed in other treatment modalities. The preliminary efficacy and safety of NILT in acute stroke patients were demonstrated in the recently published phase II NeuroThera Effectiveness and Safety Trial (NEST-1). If confirmed by the NEST-II trial, NILT will revolutionize acute stroke management as ut has a long time window (possible 24 hr) for therapy. Moreover, understanding the mechanisms of action of NILT will provide a new therapeutic target for future drug or device development.
Yip
Samuel
S
Department of Neuroscience, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0624, USA.
Zivin
Justin
J
D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007259:Infrared Rays; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D020521:Stroke / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000627:therapeutic use
D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator