Current and emerging treatment options for spinal cord ischemia.
Spinal cord infarction (SCI) is a rare but disabling disorder caused by a wide spectrum of conditions. Given the lack of randomized-controlled trials, contemporary treatment concepts are adapted from guidelines for cerebral ischemia, atherosclerotic vascular disease, and acute traumatic spinal cord injury. In addition, patients with SCI are at risk for several potentially life-threatening but preventable systemic and neurologic complications. Notably, there is emerging evidence from preclinical studies for the use of neuroprotection in acute ischemic injury of the spinal cord. In this review, we discuss the current state of the art for the therapy and prevention of SCI and highlight potential emerging treatment concepts awaiting translational adoption.
Department of Neurology, Christian Doppler Medical Center, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria; Spinal Cord Injury and Tissue Regeneration Center, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria; Department of Neurology, Franz Tappeiner Hospital, Merano, Italy.
Raffaele
R
Nardone
Department of Neurology, Christian Doppler Medical Center, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria.
Slaven
S
Pikija
Department of Neurology, Christian Doppler Medical Center, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria.
J Sebastian
JS
Mutzenbach
Department of Neurology, Christian Doppler Medical Center, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria.
Martin
M
Seidl
Department of Neurology, Christian Doppler Medical Center, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria.
Stefan
S
Leis
Department of Neurology, Christian Doppler Medical Center, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria; Spinal Cord Injury and Tissue Regeneration Center, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria.
Eugen
E
Trinka
Department of Neurology, Christian Doppler Medical Center, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria; Department of Neurology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Germany. Electronic address: j.sellner@salk.at.
Johann
J
Sellner
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011379:Prognosis; D020760:Spinal Cord Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control
D018696:Neuroprotective Agents