Ischemic Strokes and Molecular

Mechanisms
Jude Farraj
Biology and Biotechnology
Supervised by Sima Zein, PhD

American University of Madaba

What is a Stroke?

• A medical condition that happens when the blood supplied to part of the
brain is interrupted.
• As a result, prevents oxygen and glucose from reaching the brain tissue.
Ultimately, starved cells begin to die.
• Types: Ischemic stroke, Hemorrhagic stroke, Transient ischemic attack
(mini-attack).
What is an Ischemic Stroke?

• One type of stroke.

• Accounts for about 87 % of all strokes.
• Occurs when a vessel supplying the brain is obstructed.
• Reason: thrombus or embolus.
• Result: starvation of tissue supplied.
Current Clinical Management

• Patients admitted o the hospital showing symptoms of stroke were

considered for recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (r-TPA) if they
present within 3h of symptoms onset.
• Other drugs considered are heparin, aspirin, or the dipyridamole-aspirin
combination with or without clopidogrel.
• Surgical or endovascular therapy might be considered
Thrombolytic therapy

• Prior of the availability of computed tomographic (CT) imaging, a study

were done on 249 patients.
- Mortality rate ranged from 20% to 50%.
- hemorrhage rates from 11% to 35%.
• r-TPA was approved for use within a 3-h time window from stroke onset,
properly screened patients were 30% more likely to have minimal to no
disability.
Molecular Biology: Time course, Targets, and
Outcomes