Cerebral blood flow in ischaemic stroke patients

The ischemic brain tissue consists of the stroke core, in which the brain cells are dead, and of the penumbra in which the brain cells are functional silent. The penumbra cells will die if arterial reperfusion is not established as soon as possible. If the penumbra cells are rescued in time, most patients with an ischemic stroke will have a good outcome. Reestablishing blood flow can be achieved by re-opening of the arterial vessels via clot lysis with intravenuous rT-PA or mechanical thrombectomy. The role of a targeted blood pressure management is unknown, and the focus of our research. We hypothesize that a good regulated cerebral blood flow is a marker of good brain tissue perfusion and as a consequence of a good clinical outcome. To estimate whether cerebral blood flow regulation is good or bad we use complex mathematical models (e.g. transfer function) between blood pressure and cerebral blood flow velocity

Our collaboration partners are allocated in Great Britain (Leicester, Oxford, Southampton), the USA (Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles), the Netherlands (Nijmegen), New Zealand (Auckland), and at the  ETH Zürich.