Assessing response to stroke thrombolysis: Validation of 24-hour multimodal magnetic resonance imaging

Abstract

Background: Imaging is used as a surrogate for clinical outcome in early-phase stroke trials. Assessment of infarct growth earlier than the standard 90 days used for clinical end points may be equally accurate and more practical. Objective: To compare assessment of the effect of reperfusion therapies using 24-hour vs day 90 magnetic resonance imaging. Design: Infarct volume was assessed on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) at baseline and 24 hours after stroke onset and on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery images at day 90. The DWI and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery lesions were manually outlined by 2 independent raters, and the volumes were averaged. Interrater consistency was assesse..