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Cheap blood test heralds speedy stroke diagnosis

By Sylvia Pagán Westphal

20 March 2004

A QUICK and cheap blood test could soon help doctors tell if a patient is having a stroke and help them get the right treatment as soon as possible. Future versions might even be able to distinguish between different kinds of strokes.

Strokes are one of the most common causes of death and disability. Over 80 per cent are caused by a blood clot blocking an artery in the brain, others by a ruptured blood vessel. A quarter of people who have a stroke die, and survivors are usually left with permanent brain damage.

Diagnosing a stroke is often difficult…

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