Is the HDAC inhibitor Sodium Valproate associated with reduced stroke risk?
Standard risk factors such as high blood pressure and smoking are important causes of stroke but they do not explain all strokes. By identifying other causes of stroke, it might be possible to develop treatments to prevent stroke. One way to do this is genetic studies. We have recently performed the largest genetic study in stroke. We compared DNA from people with stroke to people without stroke and identified a new cause of stroke; the HDAC9 gene (which produces HDAC9 protein). Our results may imply that drugs which reduce activity of (inhibit) HDAC9 may reduce stroke risk. There are some data supporting this and HDAC9 inhibitors have already been suggested as a stroke treatment. A way of examining this is to see if drugs that inhibit HDAC9 are linked to a lower stroke risk. Sodium valproate is a common antiepileptic drug; it also inhibits HDAC9. One study has suggested that those taking this drug may have a reduced stroke risk. Also 5-10% of people will develop epilepsy after stroke.
We will investigate whether Sodium valproate reduces stroke risk in 2 ways;
- Do those on Sodium valproate have a reduced stroke risk compared to other epilepsy drugs?
- Do those on Sodium valproate have fewer recurrent strokes compared to other epilepsy drugs in post-stroke epilepsy?
If HDAC inhibitors lower stroke risk, this could have important implications for improving treatment;
- Support potential of HDAC inhibition in stroke and cardiovascular prevention.
- Support development of completely new stroke and cardiovascular prevention therapies