Researchers Develop “ Game-Changing ” Blood Test for Stroke Detection
Stroke is the leading cause of disability worldwide and the second leading cause of death , but the right early intervention can prevent severe consequences . A new study led by investigators from Brigham and Women ’ s Hospital , a founding member of the Mass General Brigham healthcare system , and collaborators developed a new test by combining blood-based biomarkers with a clinical score to identify patients experiencing large vessel occlusion ( LVO ) stroke with high accuracy . Their results are published in the journal Stroke : Vascular and Interventional Neurology .
“ We have developed a game-changing , accessible tool that could help ensure that more people suffering from stroke are in the right place at the right time to receive critical , life-restoring care ,” said senior author Joshua Bernstock , MD , PhD , MPH , a clinical fellow in the Department of Neurosurgery at Brigham and Women ’ s Hospital .
Most strokes are ischemic , in which blood flow to the brain is obstructed . LVO strokes are an aggressive type of ischemic stroke that occurs when an obstruction occurs in a major artery in the brain . When blood supply to the brain is compromised , the lack of oxygen and nutrients causes brain cells to die within minutes . LVO strokes are major medical emergencies and require the swift treatment with mechanical thrombectomy , a surgical procedure that retrieves the blockage .
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