Spanish research identifies blood test for stroke progression
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
A simple blood test which predicts the likelihood of a stroke progressing has been identified by a team of Spanish researchers. The test measures the concentration of an aminoacid called glutamate in blood plasma which is normally stored in brain cells and is used as a neurotransmitter. Stroke-damaged brain cells are believed to release large amounts of glutamate into the blood stream when they die. Neighbouring brain cells, which were initially spared during the initiation of the stroke, may be poisoned and thereby killed.