Animal stroke models. They are relevant to human disease.

In a recent editorial in Stroke, 1 Wiebers, Adams, and Whisnant expressed their doubt about the relevance of drug studies in animal stroke models for development of therapy for the human disorder. They were particularly disturbed by the possibility that the use of animal models "may impede rather than advance scientific progress in the treatment of this disease." We want to debate this issue from our own perspective as physicians involved simultaneously in clinical trials and animal model studies. We believe that both types of studies are vitally important. Most animal model studies are intended to investigate the disease process and not to evaluate methods of stroke management. We do not think it necessary to document the value of the use of animal models here, but such basic studies are fundamental to much of modern scientific medicine. The key question raised by Wiebers et al is whether pharmacologic studies in animal models have any relevance to treatment of the human condition. We agree that the results of drug studies in animal models have not yet translated into effective therapy in humans, but we disagree with Dr. Wiebers' analysis of the value of such studies. First, drugs such as glutamate antagonists and tissue plasminogen activator, which have recently proven particularly effective in animal models, are only now beginning trial at the bedside. Animal studies of these drugs are providing valuable information about how best to use them and to manage their possible toxicity." Calcium channel blockers met with mixed success in animal models, and similar results are emerging from recent clinical trials. In some studies," dihydropyridines were found to increase cerebral blood flow and reduce infarct size if started prior to or very early after focal ischemia. Based on these results, nimodipine has been proven effective and approved for use for cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage. Furthermore, it is premature to say that calcium