A Medical Research Council (MRC) trial led by Professor Kennedy Lees of the University of Glasgow's Department of Medicine & Therapeutics and published in The Lancet has shown that magnesium sulphate reduces disability and death for a particular type of stroke that affects about one third of patients.

The results also showed some evidence that magnesium sulphate may be of benefit to stroke patients with high blood pressure.

These findings have highlighted promising avenues for further research which may help doctors develop better treatments for different types of stroke.

Previous research had suggested that magnesium sulphate might be of benefit to everyone affected by stroke, but the rigorous nature of the trial has shown that it would be inappropriate to give this treatment to all stroke patients.

Two and a half thousand patients took part in the international MRC trial called IMAGES led by Professor Lees to find out if giving magnesium sulphate intravenously within 12 hours of a stroke could reduce the severity of disability and the number of patients who died.

Professor Lees said:

'Whilst we were disappointed that magnesium does not help all stroke patients, this result will allow us to plan research into treatment for a group of patients for whom we thought very little could be done.

'These patients often survive for many years with serious disability and since treatment with magnesium is extremely cheap and safe, treatment could have a massive impact on their ability to resume a normal life.

'Existing treatment for acute stroke such as clot-busting drugs is suitable for so few patients - less than one in 40 - that a treatment that can be given to a third or more of our patients would be a major advance.

'The IMAGES trial proves that stroke services in the UK are capable of providing early treatment and stroke doctors are willing to undertake groundbreaking research that will have an impact on patients.'

Stroke is the main cause of disability and one of the main causes of death in the UK. Affecting young people as well as the elderly, stroke remains a substantial burden for the patient, carers and society. 'Lacunar' stroke, in which the damage causes a small hole deep within the brain, affects one third of stroke patients which accounts for around 50,000 people in the UK each year. It is usually caused by high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes or raised cholesterol levels.

The common symptoms experienced include weakness or paralysis down one side of the body, speech impairment or loss, vision disturbance, confusion and an inability to swallow.

Media Relations Office (media@gla.ac.uk)

For further information or to interview Professor Kennedy Lees, contact the MRC Press Office on 020 7637 6011 or Judith Hodgson at University of Glasgow on 0141 330 3535

First published: 6 February 2004