Study examines new pediatric stroke treatment

CALGARY – An Alberta Health Services pediatric neurologist is testing a potential breakthrough treatment for children affected by perinatal stroke.

Dr. Adam Kirton, Director of the Calgary Pediatric Stroke Program at Alberta Children’s Hospital, uses a magnetic field to stimulate specific areas of the brain. Dr. Kirton is leading a three-year, $250,000 study into the effectiveness of this procedure, known as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), as a rehabilitation therapy for pediatric stroke patients. The study is funded by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Alberta.

“For years, children with brain injuries caused by perinatal stroke have had a limited number of options to improve their function,” says Dr. Kirton. “But we’re already seeing some big improvements in the children participating in this study.”

Each year, about 100 Alberta children have a perinatal stroke, which can happen from 28 weeks into pregnancy up to 28 days after birth. The Alberta Perinatal Stroke Project supports half of the 800 Albertans under the age of 18 years who have brain injuries caused by perinatal stroke.

Dr. Kirton’s study involves 64 participants between the ages of six and 18.

Each participant is involved for six months, including a two-week camp at the Alberta Children’s Hospital. Some participants receive TMS and additional therapies; others receive just the additional therapies, some of which are done in a group setting.

“Once we have more data, we can isolate the impact TMS has on these children,” says
Dr. Kirton. “We expect everyone who participates in the study will get better to some degree.”

Alana Ramsay, 15, joined the study in late August and already reports dramatic improvements.

“I can do up buttons with my right hand now,” says Ramsay, who had a stroke at birth that affects the right side of her body. “I can pick up pennies and other thin objects that I could never pick up before.”

Dr. Kirton stresses TMS alone might not be the cause for her improvement.

“The social and psychological benefits of this study should not be under-estimated,” he says. “Most of these kids have never met someone else who’s been affected by perinatal stroke. Forming new friendships with their peers and sharing the realization that they can improve their function may have additional, far-reaching benefits.”

TMS is a safe, non-invasive technology that was invented 25 years ago as a way to measure brain activity and function.

Alberta Children’s Hospital has the only pediatric TMS lab in Canada. It was funded by donations from the public through the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation.

A stroke occurs when the flow of blood to the brain (ischemic stroke) is interrupted, or blood vessels in the brain are ruptured (hemorrhagic stroke). The interruption of blood flow or the rupture of blood vessels causes brain cells (neurons) in the affected area to die.

Alberta Health Services is the provincial health authority responsible for planning and delivering health supports and services for more than 3.7 million adults and children living in Alberta. Its mission is to provide a patient-focused, quality health system that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans.

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