Posted on 06/23/2023 2:00:52 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
Scientists have just discovered that the drug dimethylfumarate can block blood clotting during infection, offering hope that it could be used to treat a number of conditions, such a life-threatening disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC), which can occur in serious infections with bacteria that lead to sepsis or in response to viral infections such as COVID-19.
Dr. Tristram Ryan and Professor Luke O'Neill describe how dimethylfumarate and a related experimental drug called 4-OI can stop coagulation by decreasing production of a clotting factor called Tissue Factor.
They have shown that the mechanism involves a block in proteins called interferons, which promote tissue factor releases. Dr. Ryan said, "DIC is one of the leading causes of death worldwide so we hope our findings might lead to new therapies that save lives."
The team demonstrated that life-threatening clotting could be prevented in mice infected with the bacteria E. coli and Staph aureus and also in response to SARS-CoV2, the virus that causes COVID-19. They also showed the process being blocked was dysfunctional in blood samples taken from patients with severe COVID-19.
Dr. Ryan added, "Dimethylfumarate is already in use for diseases such as psoriasis and multiple sclerosis and could be repurposed for sepsis and COVID-19, while 4-OI might be used to develop a brand new therapy."
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
Sepsis nearly did me in after emergency surgery.
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