Uric acid may enhance stroke treatment efficacy

A new study has found that uric acid could improve recovery after a stroke. This research was carried out on rodents and suggests that uric acid may be useful as an additional treatment alongside current therapies for stroke in humans. The study was published in the journal Stroke. The research team from the University of Iowa, led by Dr. Enrique Leira and Dr. Anil Chauhan, used a rodent model that closely resembles human stroke conditions. They administered uric acid to some animals and a saline solution to others. Over a month, they monitored the animals' recovery through various assessments, including MRI scans. Results showed that mice receiving uric acid had better sensorimotor function a month after stroke compared to the control group. Additionally, more mice in the uric acid group survived their stroke. However, the treatment did not significantly reduce brain damage in secondary evaluations. The study included a diverse group of rodents, such as both male and female, younger and older mice, and those with health complications like obesity and high blood pressure. This indicates that uric acid may be effective for a wide range of patients. Ischemic strokes occur when a blockage prevents blood from reaching the brain. They are a major cause of death and disability in the U.S. Standard treatments focus on breaking up clots and restoring blood flow, but not every patient fully recovers. The addition of uric acid could provide extra protection for brain tissue during treatment. This study is part of the National Institutes of Health's Stroke Preclinical Assessment Network, which aims to improve the way preclinical research is done. The goal is to find effective treatments that can later be tested in clinical trials.