Cerebroprotection in acute ischemic stroke: Perspectives on combining cerebrolysin with recanalization therapy

This article provides perspectives on the use of Cerebrolysin as an adjunct treatment to reperfusion therapy in acute ischemic stroke (AIS). In the evolving landscape of AIS reperfusion therapy, we hypothesize that adjunctive cerebroprotective therapy, such as Cerebrolysin, is likely to further improve patient outcomes. Beyond its established neurorecovery benefits, recent data indicate that Cerebrolysin also offers protection to the neurovascular unit and the blood-brain barrier. This paper introduces the CErebrolysin in RECanalization And Perfusion (CERECAP) program, a collaborative initiative of independent academic investigations exploring the favorable trends of Cerebrolysin in reperfusion. The CERECAP program has generated compelling data demonstrating Cerebrolysin's alignment with current AIS reperfusion therapy concepts, particularly its role in early intervention targeting multiple pathways. We review these studies and discuss the critical need to clearly define the patient population that benefit most from adjunctive Cerebrolysin therapy in AIS.