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Cholesterol drugs could cut clots | Cholesterol drugs could cut clots |
(about 14 hours later) | |
Drugs which can regulate levels of cholesterol in the blood may also reduce the risk of dangerous clots, say scientists. | Drugs which can regulate levels of cholesterol in the blood may also reduce the risk of dangerous clots, say scientists. |
Blood clots can result in stroke or heart attack. | Blood clots can result in stroke or heart attack. |
Researchers, writing in the journal Blood, reduced the size and stability of blood clots in mice and said the discovery could lead to new drugs. | Researchers, writing in the journal Blood, reduced the size and stability of blood clots in mice and said the discovery could lead to new drugs. |
The British Heart Foundation said it was an exciting discovery which could result in more effective treatments. | The British Heart Foundation said it was an exciting discovery which could result in more effective treatments. |
Around 32,000 people in the UK die after developing a blood clot. | Around 32,000 people in the UK die after developing a blood clot. |
The team at the University of Reading was investigating how clots form and say they were surprised to find that protein, LXR, was involved. | The team at the University of Reading was investigating how clots form and say they were surprised to find that protein, LXR, was involved. |
LXR is already known to control levels of cholesterol and drug companies have been targeting it for new treatments. | |
The researchers found that drugs which affect LXR reduced the size and stability of growing clots in experiments on mice. | The researchers found that drugs which affect LXR reduced the size and stability of growing clots in experiments on mice. |
Professor Jon Gibbins, from the University of Reading, said: "It's really quite exciting really, it could be quite an important discovery." | Professor Jon Gibbins, from the University of Reading, said: "It's really quite exciting really, it could be quite an important discovery." |
"While blood clotting is essential to prevent bleeding, inappropriate clotting within the circulation, known as thrombosis, is the trigger for heart attacks and strokes - which kill more people in the UK each year than any other disease. | "While blood clotting is essential to prevent bleeding, inappropriate clotting within the circulation, known as thrombosis, is the trigger for heart attacks and strokes - which kill more people in the UK each year than any other disease. |
"This study paves the way for new and more effective medicines to prevent thrombosis." | "This study paves the way for new and more effective medicines to prevent thrombosis." |
Professor Jeremy Pearson, associate medical director at the British Heart Foundation, said: "Both anti-clotting and cholesterol lowering drugs are vital in reducing the chance of a heart attack or stroke in high-risk patients, but are not always effective and don't suit all patients because of the risk of side-effects. | Professor Jeremy Pearson, associate medical director at the British Heart Foundation, said: "Both anti-clotting and cholesterol lowering drugs are vital in reducing the chance of a heart attack or stroke in high-risk patients, but are not always effective and don't suit all patients because of the risk of side-effects. |
"This exciting discovery shows that drugs which lower cholesterol through targeting LXR protein can also reduce harmful blood clotting - potentially opening up paths towards new, more effective treatments." | "This exciting discovery shows that drugs which lower cholesterol through targeting LXR protein can also reduce harmful blood clotting - potentially opening up paths towards new, more effective treatments." |
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