Introduction: Stockholm stroke symposium - from genes to acute care

The acute stroke research field is dynamic and exciting with several clinical breakthroughs, which give reason for optimism. There is gradually a broader understanding of the genetic linkage with different aspects of stroke. As a majority of stroke cases are caused by thrombo-embolism with blocking of one or more of the cerebral arteries, the obvious acute treatment strategy is to remove the occluded vessel and thereby restore the aerobic metabolism provided that neuroimaging analyses reveal the presence of rescuable ischaemic tissue. On January 28-29, 2009, the Journal of Internal Medicine arranged a 2-day symposium entitled Stockholm stroke symposium - from genes to acute care. In this issue of JIM, five comprehensive reviews from this symposium are presented. These include the genetic factors in the aetiology and treatment of ischaemic stroke, the interplay between microvessels, neurons and glia (i.e., the microvascular unit) in the setting of acute stroke, a critical review of various neuroimaging techniques to visualize ischaemic tissue that is still viable (the ischaemic penumbra), recanalization strategies by means of intravenous thrombolysis as well as future recanalization techniques by, for example, intra-arterial or mechanical thrombolysis and sonothrombolysis by a transcranial approach.