A treatment that breaks up blood clots is saving the lives of patients who have suffered a particularly lethal form of stroke, the results of a study have shown.

The findings, which were announced yesterday (February 19th) at the International Stroke Conference in San Diego, could see tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) be used more widely in patients with intracranial haemorrhage (ICH).

A study led by Daniel Hanley, professor of neurology at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, US, showed that 80 per cent of ICH patients survived after being given tPA.

The follow-up study involved reporting on the patients' progress six months down the line - with just ten per cent reporting no lingering disability and 40 per cent reporting only mild to moderate disability.

Commenting on the findings, Professor Hanley said: "We're painting a pretty good picture for quality of life after our treatment for ICH.

"Survival doesn't have to mean just getting by - we're showing that it can mean truly living again."

Approximately 15 million people across the world suffer from a stroke every year.

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