Loading...
Ancrod, a purified fraction of venom from a Malaysian pit viper that lowers fibrinogen levels in human beings, is FDA-approved for heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. Does this fibrinogen-depleting agent improve functional outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS), and is it safe? These are the main questions addressed by this parallel-group, double-blind, manufacturer-supported trial.
Five hundred patients with AIS were randomized to receive a 72-hour-long intravenous infusion of ancrod or placebo within 3 hours of symptom onset. One-hour-long infusions followed at 96 and 120 hours. The primary outcome measure was a Barthel index of 95 or more (independence in activities of daily living) assessed at 3 months. The covariate-adjusted…