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Updated: May 2, 2026

A Mouse Model of Hemorrhagic Transformation Induced by Acute Hyperglycemia Combined with Transient Focal Ischemia
Published on: November 15, 2024
Hyperglycemia, acute ischemic stroke, and thrombolytic therapy
Sherif Hafez1,2, Maha Coucha3, Askiel Bruno4
1Charlie Norwood Veterans Administration Medical Center, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia.
Insights
Hyperglycemia worsens stroke outcomes and increases hemorrhage risk with tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) therapy. Understanding these interactions is crucial for developing safer stroke treatments.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Ischemic stroke is a major cause of death and disability.
- Acute hyperglycemia in stroke patients correlates with poor outcomes, longer hospital stays, and increased mortality.
- Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is the primary treatment for acute ischemic stroke, but carries a risk of intracerebral hemorrhage.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current management strategies for hyperglycemia in stroke patients receiving tPA.
- To explore the mechanisms by which hyperglycemia exacerbates neurovascular injury.
- To summarize therapeutic approaches for mitigating stroke injury in hyperglycemic conditions and discuss the HG-tPA interaction.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of clinical trials and experimental models.
- Focus on preclinical studies investigating hyperglycemia's effect on stroke.
- Analysis of mechanisms, therapeutic strategies, and the interaction between hyperglycemia and tPA.
Main Results:
- Hyperglycemia is linked to worse stroke outcomes and increased risk of hemorrhage with tPA.
- Mechanisms underlying HG-induced neurovascular injury are complex and not fully elucidated.
- Various therapeutic strategies are being explored to reduce injury and hemorrhage risk.
Conclusions:
- Effective management of hyperglycemia in stroke patients is critical.
- Further preclinical research is needed to understand the interaction between hyperglycemia and tPA.
- Developing strategies to reduce tPA-induced hemorrhage in hyperglycemic stroke is a key clinical goal.
Abstract:
Ischemic stroke is a leading cause of disability and is considered now the fourth leading cause of death. Many clinical trials have shown that stroke patients with acute elevation in blood glucose at onset of stroke suffer worse functional outcomes, longer in-hospital stay, and higher mortality rates. The only therapeutic hope for these patients is the rapid restoration of blood flow to the ischemic tissue through intravenous administration of the only currently proven effective therapy, tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). However, even this option is associated with the increased risk of intracerebral hemorrhage. Nonetheless, the underlying mechanisms through which hyperglycemia (HG) and tPA worsen the neurovascular injury after stroke are not fully understood. Accordingly, this review summarizes the latest updates and recommendations about the management of HG and coadministration of tPA in a clinical setting while focusing more on the various experimental models studying (1) the effect of HG on stroke outcomes, (2) the potential mechanisms involved in worsening the neurovascular injury, (3) the different therapeutic strategies employed to ameliorate the injury, and finally, (4) the interaction between HG and tPA. Developing therapeutic strategies to reduce the hemorrhage risk with tPA in hyperglycemic setting is of great clinical importance. This can best be achieved by conducting robust preclinical studies evaluating the interaction between tPA and other therapeutics in order to develop potential therapeutic strategies with high translational impact.
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