Initial diagnosis and management of acute ischemic stroke: updates and future directions

Abstract

Outcomes in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) depend critically on rapid and accurate early diagnosis in the emergency department. Traditional prehospital tools and large vessel occlusion–focused scales facilitate triage but have limited capacity to distinguish ischemic from hemorrhagic stroke, a distinction essential for acute-phase treatment decisions. Recent advances include mobile stroke units equipped with computed tomography (CT), point-of-care laboratories, and telemedicine systems, as well as the emergence of biomarkers that enable field-based diagnosis and faster initiation of therapy. In-hospital imaging strategies incorporating CT, CT perfusion, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based tissue clocks have expanded eligibility for endovascular thrombectomy to include patients with large-core infarction or unclear-onset wake-up strokes. Prolonged cardiac monitoring and high-resolution vessel wall MRI have improved the detection of embolic sources and high-risk atherosclerotic plaques. Artificial intelligence now supports rapid imaging interpretation, workflow optimization, and treatment selection. Tenecteplase, a novel thrombolytic, provides a practical alternative to alteplase with comparable safety and efficacy, while post-thrombectomy management emphasizes individualized blood pressure control. In patients with minor stroke or high-risk transient ischemic attack, short-term dual antiplatelet therapy reduces early recurrence, and early initiation of lipid-lowering agents after AIS may stabilize vulnerable plaques and enhance vascular outcomes. Collectively, these innovations represent a shift toward integrated, time-sensitive, and precision-based AIS care spanning prehospital assessment, emergency department management, and post-reperfusion management.