Important Announcements

Nondiscrimination Statement Update

Boston Medical Center Health System complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, national origin (including limited English proficiency and primary language), religion, culture, physical or mental disabilities, socioeconomic status, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity and/or expression. BMCHS provides free aids and services to people with disabilities and free language services to people whose primary language is not English.

To see our full nondiscrimination statement, click here.

Campus Construction Update

Starting September 14, we’re closing the Menino building lobby entrance. This, along with the ongoing Yawkey building entrance closure, will help us bring you an even better campus experience that matches the exceptional care you've come to expect. Please enter the Menino and Yawkey buildings through the Moakley building, and make sure to leave extra time to get to your appointment. Thank you for your patience. 

Click here to learn more about our campus redesign. 

DIAS4

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DIAS4: Desmoteplase in Acute Ischemic Stroke

Sponsor: Lundbeck

Investigators: Carlos Kase MD (principal), Thanh Nguyen MD, Viken Babikian MD, Jose Romero MD, Aleksandra Pikula MD

Summary

An ischemic stroke is caused by a blockage, called a clot, in an artery that supplies blood to the brain. This obstruction results in a loss of blood flow to the affected area of the brain. The goal of drug therapy used to treat this condition is to dissolve the clot, thereby opening the blood vessel and restoring blood flow to the brain. At this time, there are no FDA-approved medications to dissolve or remove the blood clot in patients that seek help greater than 4 ½ hours after the onset of their stroke symptoms. The purpose of this research study is to determine whether the investigational drug Desmoteplase is effective in the treatment of ischemic stroke when administered 4.5 to 9 hours after symptoms begin. Desmoteplase is being studied worldwide for its use in the treatment of individuals with stroke. This study examined the use of a synthetic drug derived from the saliva of vampire bats. The study examined whether this drug would extend the time window for treatment of acute ischemic strokes from three to nine hours after symptoms first appear, by dissolving the clot that caused the stroke.

Results pending