Bibliometric Analysis of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps in Stroke: Research Trends and Hotspots

Stroke is the second leading cause of death in the world, requiring innovation in therapeutic methods. Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs), networks released by neutrophils, are associated with stroke. This study explores the trends and hotspots of NETs in stroke through bibliometric analysis. The literature on "NETs in stroke" was obtained from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC), published from January 1, 2015, to August 31, 2025. This study displays the collaboration of authors, the influence of different journals and references, and the hotspots of keywords, using visualization tools such as Citespace, VOSviewer, Bibliometric, Bibliometrix, and Excel. A total of 370 available studies in the field of "NETs in stroke" were selected. The number of publications in this field has been increasing year by year, with China and the United States leading, indicating that the field has attracted widespread attention in these two countries. Institutional collaborations are primarily limited within the country, and international exchanges are necessary to advance research. De Meyer Simon F. and Frontiers in Immunology are the most productive author and journal, while Tobias A. Fuchs and Blood are the most cited author and journal in the field, respectively. Volker Brinkmann's pioneering work, Extracellular Traps Kill Bacteria, is the most cited reference. Through keyword analysis, it was found that studies on "NETs in stroke" primarily focused on ischemic stroke and thrombosis, with tissue factor being a key topic and myocardial ischemia emerging as a potential research trend. This study analyzes trends and hotspots of "NETs in stroke" visually, providing data support and a theoretical basis for researchers to identify appropriate collaborators and research directions.