Methylprednisolone as Adjunct to Endovascular Thrombectomy for Acute Ischemic Stroke With Large Infarct Core and Post-stroke Lymphocytopenia -A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Non-inferiority Trial
The efficacy and safety of early adjunctive methylprednisolone therapy in acute ischemic stroke patients with large infarct cores (ASPECTS score \< 6) and post-stroke lymphocytopenia remain unclear. These immunocompromised patients face higher mortality rates and poorer clinical outcomes, with limited effective treatment options currently available. This multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, non-inferiority trial aims to demonstrate that early methylprednisolone administration combined with reperfusion therapy is non-inferior to placebo in terms of survival and functional outcomes at 90 days.
• Age ≥ 18 years.
• The time from last known well to randomization was within 24 hours.
• Anterior circulation ischemic stroke was preliminarily determined according to clinical symptoms or imaging examination.
• Occlusion of the intracranial internal carotid artery, the M1- or M2-segment of the middle cerebral artery by confirmed by CT angiography (CTA), MR angiography (MRA), or digital subtraction angiography (DSA).
• Baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) ≥ 6.
• Baseline Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) \< 6 (based on non-contrast CT or MRI) or core infarct volume ≥ 50 ml (based on CTP with rCBF \< 30%).
• Planned treatment with endovascular thrombectomy (EVT).
• Baseline peripheral blood lymphocyte \< 0.8×10#/L
• Informed consent obtained from patients or their legal representatives.