Excess calcium can affect stroke outcomes

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New research from the University of Virginia School of Medicine suggests that excess calcium contributes to the harmful inflammation in ischemic stroke, and targeting it may provide doctors with a new way to improve patient outcomes.

Dr. Petro Tvrdik discovered that immune cells called microglia are flooded with calcium after ischemic strokes. He determined that these calcium waves cause destructive inflammation that can worsen the effects of damage.

His work suggests that blocking calcium waves could help control dangerous inflammation and offer doctors a way to reduce the side effects of ischemic stroke.

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“Further research is needed to determine how harmful these calcium waves are,” Tvrdik says. “Our article has gained significant circulation in social networks. We hope that this will help in attracting funding”.