RecruitingNot Applicable

Reperfusion Injury After Endovascular Stroke Treatment

Austria600 participantsStarted 2021-10-01

Plain-language summary

Endovascular stroke treatment with mechanical thrombectomy (MT) has become the standard therapy for intracranial large vessel occlusion (LVO). The most serious MT-related complication is secondary intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) occurring in 20-25%. Post- recanalization hyperperfusion might be an important risk factor/mechanism of MT-related ICH. In pilot studies, bedside transcranial Duplex sonography (TCD) was identified as a promising screening tool for cerebral hyperperfusion predicting ICH - the hallmark feature of reperfusion injury. There is an unmet need to identify risk factors for ICH after MT as it relates to poor prognosis, no proven treatment is available, and it delays/prohibits usage of anticoagulants/-thrombotics necessary for preventing recurrent stroke. Main objectives: To explore the range and clinical impact of hemodynamic changes after MT as detected on bedside TCD. To assess whether patients with increased blood flow velocity in the recanalized middle cerebral artery (MCA) are at a higher risk to develop ICH / vasogenic brain edema (reperfusion injury) after MT. To investigate if the underlying mechanism is cerebral hyperperfusion (confirmed by perfusion MRI). To additionally study the role of blood biomarkers of blood-brain-barrier / endothelial dysfunction and neuroaxonal damage on reperfusion injury and short-term prognosis. Approach / methods: Prospective, longitudinal Austrian multicentre study conducted at three high-volume stroke centers (Graz, Innsbruck, Salzburg). The investigators will recruit consecutive stroke patients with anterior circulation L VO treated by MT. Immediately after MT, experienced sonographers will perform bedside TCD to determine MCA blood flow status, which will be repeated after 24-48h and on day 7. On day one after MT, brain MRI with perfusion serves to assess infarct size, secondary ICH, (vasogenic) brain edema and perfusion status. MRI will be centrally analyzed in the neuroimaging lab of Graz, blinded to clinical, laboratory and sonographic information. Blood samples for the analysis of biomarkers of endothelial (blood-brain barrier) dysfunction and neuroaxonal damage (neurofilament light) will be taken on day one and at three months post-MT. Neurological outcome will be rated according to the modified Rankin Scale at three months post-stroke.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * stroke due to large vessel occlusion of the anterior cerebral circulation (internal carotid artery, middle cerebral artery) receiving mechanical thrombectomy. Exclusion Criteria: * basilar artery occlusion * age below 18 years

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Rate of intracranial hemorrhage

Timeframe: Day one after mechanical thrombectomy

Rate of (vasogenic) brain edema

Timeframe: Day one after mechanical thrombectomy

Trial details

NCT IDNCT05273216

SponsorMedical University of Graz

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeOBSERVATIONAL

Primary completion2026-07

Contact for this trial

Thomas Gattringer, MD, PhD

004331638580231 thomas.gattringer@medunigraz.at

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Ischemic Stroke trials