ANTIADHESION MOLECULE STRATEGIES - A NEW PERSPECTIVE IN THE TREATMENTOF ISCHEMIC STROKE

Cerebral ischaemia leads to a massive and time-dependent infiltration of leukocytes into the nervous system. This process involves early upr egulation of endothelial cell adhesion molecules in the area of develo ping infarction. In experimental cerebral ischaemia blocking of leukoc yte adhesion and migration by antibodies led to a dramatic reduction o f ensuing cerebral infarcts. in humans, cerebral infarcts grow by exte nsion into the penumbra up to several hours. it is therefore conceivab le that antiinflammatory treatment strategies are applicable to human stroke.