Brain Swelling Often Fatal – New Medical Treatment May Help
Mar 19, 2020
Brooks Schuelke, Esq.
Schuelke Law PLLC
Austin, TX (Law Firm Newswire) March 19, 2020 – One of the most severe complications of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) is brain swelling, caused by an inflammatory reaction. Brain swelling can result in severe secondary damage that may end in death. However, a new medical discovery may change the survival chances of those with TBIs.
Traumatic brain injuries are common, with more than 2.5 million people in the United States being affected each year. This does not include military personnel overseas who have sustained a TBI in the wake of explosions.
No treatment exists for brain swelling. Recently, Northwestern Medicine scientists have been able to significantly reduce the swelling and damage incurred after a TBI by injecting nanoparticles into the bloodstream in under two hours from the time of the injury.
The research paper’s senior author, Dr. Jack Kessler, indicates that, “The results are vastly better than we predicted.” “We predict this may provide the first real and practical treatment for people with a significant brain injury.” The study was published on January 22, 2020, in the Annals of Neurology.
The study shows if injected as soon as possible after a TBI, either in the field or in the E.R., the nanoparticles help prevent secondary damage.
The particles perform their work by acting as a decoy to distract immune cells from flooding into the brain, resulting in more damage. The particles do not contain any drugs or ingredients and are referred to as immune modifying nanoparticles (IMPS).
White blood cells, in a TBI patient’s body try to clean up damaged brain cells and are tricked into seeing the IMPS as invaders and capture them instead. This means the monocytes are not present in the brain to cause brain swelling.
“This research might be good news for anyone at risk for a TBI, like contact sport athletes, motorcycle accident survivors, trucking accident victims and others with head trauma,” said Austin traumatic brain injury attorney, Brooks Schuelke.
Plans for a clinical trial are underway.
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