ESOC 2022 | Blood-brain barrier disruption increases the risk of hemorrhagic transformation in ischemic stroke

Hemorrhagic transformation is a complication of reperfusion therapy for acute ischemic stroke. Francesco Arba, MD, PhD, FESO, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy, shares what we know about the association between hemorrhagic transformation and blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption. In a recent prospective study of patients with acute ischemic stroke undergoing intravenous thrombolysis and/or endovascular thrombectomy, pretreatment BBB leakage within the ischemic area was assessed. BBB leakage was found to be associated with a more than twofold increase in relevant hemorrhagic transformation and with symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage. With further investigation, BBB disruption may be revealed as a valuable neuroradiological marker in clinical practice. This interview took place at the ESOC 2022 congress in Lyon, France.