[Neurocytoprotection advances in reperfusion therapy]

Acute stroke is the second leading cause of death and the third leading cause of disability in the world. Ischemic stroke (IS) the most common type of stroke. In acute cerebral ischemia, damage to the brain tissue is complex and includes blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, activation of intracellular and extracellular signaling pathways, expression of neurotoxic agents, excitotoxicity, and apoptosis. In acute IS, reperfusion therapy (RT), is one of the most prominent treatment options. Most of the randomized clinical trials demonstrated the efficacy and safety of RT. The use of novel neuroimaging techniques (CT-perfusion and new MRI modalities) significantly expanded the RT selection criteria in patients with IS. One of the possible ways to further expand the RT is to combine it with neurocytoprotection. According to many researchers, this could potentially significantly improve the efficacy and safety of RT. This opinion is based on the concept of preserving brain tissue in the ischemic penumbra region. The aim of this review was to analyze the current trials of neurocytoprotection in combination with RT in IS patients.