• In patients treated w/ thrombolytic agents/other therapy, the plasma/urine proteomic profiles will differ between pre- & post-therapy, indicating a characteristic therapy-induced state, which may be associated with/predictive of, therapeutic outcome. [ Time Frame: 5 years ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  

The purpose of this study is to learn how the brain responds to vascular injuries such as stroke and/or to various medical or surgical treatments. The researchers will do this by examining naturally occurring proteins in the blood and urine using state-of-the-art proteomics techniques.

Proteomics enables a "snapshot" of the body's chemistry at a specific time, either as part of normal daily function, or in response to a disease or treatment. Studying these snapshots will help scientists to better understand how people react to neurological disorders and treatments (such as thrombolysis or other interventions to save damaged brain).

In the future, this knowledge may allow scientists to better tailor treatments, or to find the treatment that will be best for an individual person. The long-term goal is to use these snapshots to improve the ability to guide potentially life-saving therapy with a risky profile such as tissue plasminogen activator, or tPA, and finding new targets of intervention.