Clot-Busting Drug May Help Treat Frostbite

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Bruen suspects that tPA works by reducing injury caused when frozen skin is re-warmed. Inflammation that occurs when the affected area thaws stimulates clotting that blocks small blood vessels, leading to cell death. Since tPA stops this clotting, blood flow is restored before permanent damage is done.

"Based on the dramatic improvements in perfusion and reduction in rates of amputations when tPA was administered within 24 hours of frostbite injury, we anticipate the continued use of tPA in patients who are admitted to our institution with acute frostbite," the authors wrote.

But Petrone said the number of patients involved in this study is too small to draw any definitive conclusions.

"In addition, because of the nature of this kind of patients, the follow-up is sometimes very difficult; therefore, the incidence of complications can not be accurately recorded," Petrone said. "Also, the absence of the adequate and matched controls -- especially in terms of severity scores -- makes me think that the study subjects could have improved anyway without tissue plasminogen activator treatment," he said.

More information

For more information on frostbite, visit the U.S. National Library of Medicine.