Dye called “brilliant blue G”could aid brain injury recovery

The number of people suffering from traumatic brain injury each year continues to rise, fueling the motivation and dedication of many New Haven, Connecticut doctors to treat brain injury. A recent announcement outlined a new treatment method, which might improve recovery time for a traumatic brain injury.

Reportedly, almost 40 percent of patients with severe brain trauma die due to the damage that occurs after the original brain injury. However, a new study from the National Institutes of Health announced a promising method that could mitigate brain swelling and other damages by using a dye called “brilliant blue G.” Two scientists recently explained that when the brain is injured, interleukin 1, a pro-inflammatory substance produced by the body, may help heal and repair the brain. However, interleukin 1 might cause more harm than good because it may cause too much swelling in the brain.

A neuroscientist is planning to use brilliant blue G to temporarily block the potential harm caused by interleukin but also wants to identify if measuring the level of interleukin at the first sign of brain injury could determine the potential for brain swelling. Researchers will also be conducting laboratory experiments to test the effectiveness of brilliant blue G in stopping swelling over time.

A brain injury is very serious; so serious that many researchers are working non-stop to find a treatment beneficial to brain injury victims. If researchers do devise a successful therapy, the cost of such treatment may be too expensive for many patients to afford. However, if traumatic brain injury was due to another person’s recklessness or negligence, a civil lawsuit may help the victim recover compensation to cover the treatment costs and other related expenses.

Source: ECN Magazine, “Brilliant blue G may shine in treating traumatic brain injuries,” Feb. 11, 2014