ESOC 2022 | Endovascular therapy for low NIHSS strokes: defining who may benefit

Investigations into the role of endovascular therapy in patients with a large vessel occlusion with a low NIH stroke scale score have shown no benefit compared to best medical management alone. Pierre Seners, MD, PhD, Rothschild Foundation Hospital, Paris, France, comments on these findings, noting that the neutral outcome is likely due to a lack of patient selection. Dr Seners introduces work aiming to identify patients within the low NIHSS population who may benefit from endovascular therapy. When studying those who received intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) alone, valuable imaging biomarkers were identified that predicted a higher risk of early neurological deterioration, including those with a longer thrombus and more proximal occlusions. These findings suggest future investigations into endovascular therapy in patients with minor symptoms should focus on this patient population who may derive the most benefit. This interview took place at European Stroke Organisation Conference 2022 in Lyon, France.