Effect of Hyperacute Administration (Within 6 Hours) of Transdermal Glyceryl Trinitrate, a Nitric Oxide Donor, on Outcome After Stroke: Subgroup Analysis of the Efficacy of Nitric Oxide in Stroke (ENOS) Trial

Well, if this is effective, what about having stroke survivors breath nitric oxide and eat nitrate rich foods that convert to nitric oxide?  Damn, these are fucking simple questions that should have popped into any stroke medical persons mind and suggested changes to our non-existent stroke strategy. You want to train your doctor on this? I have 56 posts on nitric oxide. Go for the training. It's all up to YOU because your doctors are going to do nothing with this.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26463698

Woodhouse L¹, Scutt P¹, Krishnan K¹, Berge E¹, Gommans J¹, Ntaios G¹, Wardlaw J¹, Sprigg N¹, Bath PM²; ENOS Investigators.

Author information

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:

Nitric oxide donors are candidate treatments for acute stroke, potentially through hemodynamic, reperfusion, and neuroprotectant effects, especially if given early. Although the large Efficacy of Nitric Oxide in Stroke (ENOS) trial of transdermal glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) was neutral, a prespecified subgroup suggested that GTN improved functional outcome if administered early after stroke onset.

METHODS:

Prospective analysis of subgroup of patients randomized into the ENOS trial within 6 hours of stroke onset. Safety and efficacy of GTN versus no GTN were assessed using data on early and late outcomes.

RESULTS:

Two hundred seventy-three patients were randomized within 6 hours of ictus: mean (SD) age, 69.9 (12.7) years; men, 154 (56.4%); ischemic stroke, 208 (76.2%); Scandinavian Stroke Scale, 32.1 (11.9); and total anterior circulation syndrome, 86 (31.5%). When compared with no GTN, the first dose of GTN lowered blood pressure by 9.4/3.3 mm Hg (P<0.01, P=0.064) and shifted the modified Rankin Scale to a better outcome by day 90, adjusted common odds ratio, 0.51 (95% confidence interval, 0.32-0.80). Significant beneficial effects were also seen with GTN for disability (Barthel Index), quality of life (EuroQol-Visual Analogue Scale), cognition (telephone Mini-Mental State Examination), and mood (Zung Depression Scale). GTN was safe to administer with less serious adverse events by day 90 (GTN 18.8% versus no GTN 34.1%) and death (hazard ratio, 0.44; 95% confidence interval, 0.20-0.99; P=0.047).

CONCLUSIONS:

In a subgroup analysis of the large ENOS trial, transdermal GTN was safe to administer and associated with improved functional outcome and fewer deaths when administered within 6 hours of stroke onset.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION:

URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00989716.