November 13, 2017

Landmark study may affect stroke treatment guidelines

By: Judy Mathias
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Editor's Note

Guidelines for stroke treatment currently recommend clot removal within 6 hours of onset. However, a new study led by researchers from Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, finds that clot removal up to 24 hours leads to significantly reduced disability.

This international multi-center study randomly assigned 206 stroke patients, who arrived at the hospital within 6 to 24 hours, to either endovascular clot removal or standard medical therapy.

Nearly half (48.6%) of patients who underwent clot removal had a considerable decrease in disability, while only 13.1% of the medication group had a similar decrease.

The findings could impact countless stroke patients who arrive at the hospital after the current 6-hour treatment window has closed, the researchers say.

The study will be published in the New England Journal of Medicine. 

 

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