Deferoxamine therapy for intracerebral hemorrhage

Acta Neurochir Suppl. 2008:105:3-6. doi: 10.1007/978-3-211-09469-3_1.

Abstract

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a subtype of stroke with very high mortality. Experiments have indicated that clot lysis and iron play an important role in ICH-induced brain injury. Iron overload occurs in the brain after ICH in rats. Intracerebral infusion of iron causes brain edema and neuronal death. Deferoxamine, an iron chelator, is an FDA-approved drug for the treatment of acute iron intoxication and chronic iron overload due to transfusion-dependent anemia. Deferoxamine can rapidly penetrate the blood-brain barrier and accumulate in the brain tissue in significant concentration after systemic administration. We have demonstrated that deferoxamine reduces ICH-induced brain edema, neuronal death, brain atrophy, and neurological deficits. Iron chelation with deferoxamine could be a new therapy for ICH.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain Edema / etiology
  • Brain Edema / pathology
  • Brain Edema / prevention & control
  • Cell Death
  • Cerebral Hemorrhage / complications
  • Cerebral Hemorrhage / drug therapy*
  • Cerebral Hemorrhage / pathology
  • Deferoxamine / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Neurons / drug effects
  • Neurons / pathology
  • Siderophores / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Siderophores
  • Deferoxamine