Cerebral ischemia: From animal studies to clinical practice. Should the methods be reviewed?

Citation
Ma. De Lecinana et al., Cerebral ischemia: From animal studies to clinical practice. Should the methods be reviewed?, CEREB DIS, 11, 2001, pp. 20-30
Citations number
85
Categorie Soggetti
Neurology,"Neurosciences & Behavoir
Journal title
CEREBROVASCULAR DISEASES
ISSN journal
10159770 → ACNP
Volume
11
Year of publication
2001
Supplement
1
Pages
20 - 30
Database
ISI
SICI code
1015-9770(2001)11:<20:CIFAST>2.0.ZU;2-9
Abstract
The development of experimental models of focal cerebral ischemia has allow ed for a better knowledge of its pathophysiology and for testing therapeuti c strategies. However, most neuroprotective substances giving favorable res ults in these models have later not been shown to be clinically effective. This could be explained by several reasons. First, the homogeneity obtained in animal models in order to achieve results is not seen in clinical pract ice in humans, in whom a given pathological condition may show a high varia bility depending on several parameters. This makes it difficult to achieve groups of patients sufficiently large and homogeneous to obtain valid concl usions in the clinical trials. The lack of agreement between the experiment al studies and the clinical practice can also be explained by other reasons , such as the methods of the experimental model itself; by the fact that th e methods to assess results in these models are not comparable to those use d in clinical practice; by pathophysiological differences between experimen tal animals and man, and even by the fact that the substances tested have d ifferent pharmacological properties in the different species, These disadva ntages must not invalidate preclinical neuroprotection studies. Rather, the knowledge of the reasons for divergences with the clinical situation can h elp to optimize experimental models so that both become actually comparable , and the laboratory results can be confirmed by clinical studies. Copyrigh t (C)2001 S. Karger AG, Basel.