Why does therapeutic hypothermia sometimes fail to prevent neuronal damage after ischemic stroke, even when reperfusion is achieved?

💡 Explanation

Therapeutic hypothermia aims to reduce neuronal damage following stroke by slowing metabolic processes; however, excitotoxicity, mediated by glutamate, continues even with reperfusion. Hypothermia’s neuroprotective effect is limited because it may not fully inhibit delayed excitotoxicity pathways, therefore neuronal damage persists, rather than astrocytes clearing glutamate more effectively.

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