Edaravone, a Free Radical Scavenger, Inhibits MMP-9–Related Brain Hemorrhage in Rats Treated With Tissue Plasminogen Activator

Abstract

We demonstrate that edaravone inhibits rtPA-induced cerebral hemorrhage in the ischemic brain of rats via the inhibition of MMP-9 expression in vivo, which is substantiated by inhibition of MMP-9 expression and NF-kappaB activation in HBECs. Edaravone may render thrombolytic therapy safer for the administration of rtPA in patients with ischemic stroke.