Media Advisory
Monday, March 17, 2025
A preclinical study in rodents suggests that uric acid is ready for clinical testing in humans.
What
In a preclinical study, rodents treated with uric acid showed improved long-term outcomes after acute ischemic stroke. The results suggest that the treatment could function as an adjunct therapy to standard stroke treatments in humans. The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and published in Stroke.
Led by Enrique Leira, MD, and Anil Chauhan, PhD, at the University of Iowa, Iowa City, the researchers used a well-established rodent stroke model that closely mimics human stroke. They administered intravenous uric acid or a saline control solution and monitored the animals' recovery for one month. Behavioral and neurological assessments, including MRI scans, were used to evaluate the treatment's effects.
The uric acid-treated mice had better sensorimotor function (the primary endpoint) 30 days after the stroke. More animals in the uric acid-treated group also survived their stroke compared to control animals. However, some secondary endpoints, such as brain damage, were not reduced.
The research teams used equal numbers of male and female animals and studied old, young, and obese mice, as well as hypertensive rats. Uric acid was effective in all groups, suggesting that the treatment could potentially yield good results in human clinical trials, including in people with stroke-related comorbidities.
Ischemic strokeStroke, one of the leading causes of disability and death in the United States, occurs when a blood clot or other blockage in an artery interrupts blood flow to the brain. Strokes are treated with medications or surgery to dissolve clots and restore blood flow to the affected areas of the brain. These therapies are highly effective, but not everyone fully recovers. Using additional treatments that protect brain tissue from damage, either immediately before or during clot removal, could enhance the effects of standard treatments and significantly improve patient recovery.
The study was part of the Stroke Preclinical Assessment Network (SPAN)NIH, a rigorous and transparent approach to preclinical research that mimics clinical trials. SPAN applies standard clinical practices, such as randomization and blinded analysis, to animal studies, with the goal of finding agents likely to succeed in clinical trials. Recently, the network tested six promising stroke treatments and found one, uric acid, that was effective. The current study describes the results of this trial.
The study was supported by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) (U01NS113388, U24NS113452) and the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (R35HL139926).
Who
Walter Koroshetz, MD, NINDS Director; and Francesca Bosetti, Ph.D., NINDS Program Director, are available for interviews. To arrange an interview, please contact: NINDSpressteam@ninds.nih.gov.
Article
Patel, RB, and Kumskova, M., et al. "Cerebroprotection due to uric acid in stroke transcended sex, age, and comorbidities in a multicenter preclinical trial." Stroke. March 17, 2025. DOI: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.124.048748.
About the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS): The NINDS is the nation's leading funder of brain and nervous system research. The mission of NINDS is to acquire fundamental knowledge about the brain and nervous system and to use this knowledge to reduce the burden of neurological disease.
About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): The NIH, the nation's medical research agency, comprises 27 institutes and centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research. It studies the causes, treatments, and cures for common and rare diseases. For more information about the NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.
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