Hyperdense MCA (HDMCA) sign in acute ischemic stroke patients receiving reperfusion therapy

What is it about?

Pre-intervention CT imaging-based biomarkers, such as hyperdense middle cerebral artery sign (HMCAS) may have a role in acute ischaemic stroke prognostication. However, the clinical utility of HMCAS in settings of reperfusion therapy and the level of prognostic association is still unclear. This meta-analysis investigated the association of the HMCAS sign with clinical outcomes and its prognostic capacity in acute ischaemic stroke patients treated with reperfusion therapy.

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Why is it important?

This study demonstrated that pre-treatment HMCAS increases the risk of poor functional outcomes. However, its prognostic sensitivity and specificity in predicting long-term functional outcome, mortality and sICH after reperfusion therapy are poor.