Functional and cytoarchitectural spinal cord protection by ATL-146e after ischemia/reperfusion is mediated by adenosine receptor agonism

Clinical Relevance Paraplegia remains a real and devastating complication of vascular procedures that involve the thoracic aorta. Pharmacologic intervention has not yet had the proven success of other surgical adjuncts in limiting this complication, but treatment with adenosine analogues at reperfusion has shown promise in animal models. This study examined the specificity of the neuroprotective qualities of an adenosine receptor agonist in the setting of spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury with the ultimate goal of preventing neurologic complications in this specific subset of vascular patients.