Stimulating spleens with ultrasound hints at a treatment for inflammation

We typically think of using ultrasound to take pictures of our organs and tissues to check if they are healthy. But a slight tweak to the tool might lead to treatments for certain diseases, scientists suggest.

Stimulating people’s spleens with ultrasound waves appears to briefly reduce a sign of inflammation in samples of their blood, researchers report in the May–June issue of Brain Stimulation. If validated in further studies, the results could lead the way toward a noninvasive therapy for chronic inflammation, the team says.