Dr. Howard Smith Oncall

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/drhowardsmithreports/reel/DGWAQ9WPyMT/A handheld device carried in ambulances can rapidly determine whether a stroke is caused by a blocked brain blood vessel or by one that is bleeding.  German neurologists have just reported this advance at this year’s International Stroke Conference.The device determines blood levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein or GFAP for short.  Using it to test 353 suspected stroke victims, the researchers found that those with high GFAP levels were most likely to have hemorrhagic or bleeding strokes while those with low GFAP levels below 30 pg/ml had ischemic strokes due to clotted or blocked blood vessels.Knowing this information earlier permits a prompt initiation of appropriate therapy: clot dissolvers or clot removal for ischemic strokes or stringent blood pressure control for hemorrhagic strokes.  This could drastically change pre-hospital care for strokes…….someday soon.https://newsroom.heart.org/news/blood-test-may-detect-stroke-type-be