title: Protective roles of intra-arterial mild hypothermia and arterial thrombolysis in acute cerebral infarction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Herein, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of intra-arterial mild hypothermia in combination with arterial thrombolysis to treat acute cerebral infarction due to middle cerebral artery occlusion.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 26 patients with acute middle cerebral artery occlusion were divided into a normothermia group (n = 15) and a mild hypothermia group (n = 11). The infarct volumes at 24 h and 7 days after the operation were compared between the normothermia group and the mild hypothermia group. Additionally, we compared neurological deficit scores between the two groups at 24 h, 7 days, and 1 mo after the operation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The infarct volumes and neurological deficit scores of the mild hypothermia group were significantly reduced compared to those in the normothermia group (p< 0.05). Furthermore, no adverse reactions or complications occurred in the mild hypothermia group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intra-arterial mild hypothermia reduced infarct volume after ischemia-reperfusion injury in the arterial thrombolysis of an acute cerebral infarction. Additionally, it improved the prognosis of patients with an acute middle cerebral artery occlusion, suggesting that this procedure is safe and effective for treating acute cerebral infarction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074 China ; Department of Neurology, Wuhan Third Hospital, Wuhan, 430074 China.
authors.forename: Xiaoxiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Wuhan Third Hospital, Wuhan, 430074 China.
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Wuhan Third Hospital, Wuhan, 430074 China.
authors.forename: Wenjun
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Wuhan Third Hospital, Wuhan, 430074 China.
authors.forename: Bitang
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dan
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Wuhan Third Hospital, Wuhan, 430074 China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074 China.
authors.forename: Zhouping
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Tang
keywords: Acute cerebral infarction; Arterial thrombolysis; Cerebral protection; Mild hypothermia