Cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs), also called cavernous angiomas or cavernomas, are vascular lesions on blood vessels in the brain and elsewhere, caused by genetic factors that can be inherited or occur spontaneously. Today, surgery is the only option to remove these lesions. However, surgeries in the brain are very risky. Drug treatment would obviously be welcome.
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Drug treatment would be welcome.
The indications of propranolol, a beta blocker, include the treatment of cardiovascular diseases and conditions, such as high blood pressure. But the drug can also be used to treat hemangioma which is also a common malformation of blood vessels in children. This suggests that it might also “work” against CCMs.
The hope of propranolol in the treatment of TLC: Researchers from Uppsala University, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and IFOM (Italy) looked at how propranolol affects the emergence of vascular lesions in the form of TLC. On model mice of cavernomas, they show that treatment with propranolol makes it possible to reduce the volume and the number of cavernomas. Blood vessels function better with less leakage and improved contact between endothelial cells.
These results suggest that propranolol can be used to reduce and stabilize vascular damage, and may be a possible drug to treat MCCs.
It turns out that in Italy, a clinical study is underway in which patients with CCM will receive treatment with propranolol for 2 years, and under MRI monitoring.
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