Heart attacks have remained the leading cause of death in the United States for over a century. Most treatments focus on breaking down blood clots after they form, but researchers at Georgia Tech have uncovered a way to stop blood clots from forming in the first place.
This discovery could revolutionize the prevention of heart attacks, strokes, and other clot-related conditions.
The team at Georgia Tech found that a widely available and affordable drug, N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), can completely prevent the formation of blood clots without increasing the risk of bleeding.
This is a significant breakthrough, as current anti-platelet drugs used to manage blood clots often come with serious side effects, particularly excessive bleeding.
The key to this discovery lies in targeting a protein called von Willebrand factor (VWF). VWF plays a central role in the formation of blood clots. Under normal conditions, it exists as a compact structure in the blood.
However, when triggered by factors like narrowed arteries or injuries, it unravels and becomes sticky, catching platelets to form clots. While this process is essential for stopping bleeding in injuries, it can lead to dangerous clots in conditions like heart attacks and strokes.
David Ku, a professor at Georgia Tech, explained the challenge doctors face with current treatments: “We can give you a drug that might help prevent another heart attack, but it could also cause a lot of bleeding.”
NAC offers a way to address this dilemma by targeting VWF directly, preventing clot formation without affecting the overall clotting system.
The researchers tested NAC on blood flow using a device that mimics a narrowing artery, the kind of environment that often leads to a heart attack or stroke. NAC effectively stopped clots from forming. When tested in mice, the drug showed the same results.
Remarkably, NAC’s protective effects lasted for six hours even after it had left the bloodstream, providing extended protection against clot formation.
The advantage of NAC lies in its safety profile and existing clinical use. Currently, NAC is commonly used to treat acetaminophen overdose. This means it already has a well-documented safety record, significantly speeding up the process of making it available for new uses.
Christopher Bresette, a postdoctoral researcher, noted, “Using an existing drug for a new purpose can speed up the process of helping patients.”
This discovery could have a profound impact on patients at high risk of blood clots, particularly those who have already had a heart attack.
Administering NAC through an IV immediately after a heart attack could reduce the risk of a second, potentially life-threatening event. In the future, NAC could also be prescribed as a daily pill to lower the overall risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Beyond heart attacks, NAC has the potential to address other clot-related conditions, such as embolisms and blockages in smaller blood vessels.
The researchers are eager to move forward with clinical trials to validate their findings in humans and secure FDA approval, ensuring that this promising treatment can reach patients as soon as possible.
This discovery represents a significant step forward in cardiovascular medicine, offering a safe, effective, and affordable way to prevent blood clots and reduce the burden of heart disease.
If proven successful in clinical trials, NAC could become a game-changer in preventing heart attacks and strokes, saving countless lives and improving outcomes for high-risk patients.
If you care about heart health, please read studies about how eating eggs can help reduce heart disease risk, and Vitamin K2 could help reduce heart disease risk.
For more information about heart health, please see recent studies about how to remove plaques that cause heart attacks, and results showing a new way to prevent heart attacks, strokes.
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