Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 3 complete abstracts (660 words), 9 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
Stroke due to brain ischemia resulting in interruption or reduction of blood flow to a part of the brain. When obstruction is due to a blood clot formed within in a cerebral blood vessel it is a thrombotic stroke. When obstruction is formed elsewhere and moved to block a cerebral blood vessel (see cerebral embolism) it is referred to as embolic stroke. Wake-up stroke refers to ischemic stroke occurring during sleep while cryptogenic stroke refers to ischemic stroke of unknown origin.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Ischemic Strokes; Stroke, Ischemic; Ischaemic Stroke; Ischaemic Strokes; Stroke, Ischaemic; Acute Ischemic Stroke; Acute Ischemic Strokes; Ischemic Stroke, Acute.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Stroke
- Narrower topics
- Embolic Stroke; Thrombotic Stroke
- See also
- Thrombosis; Intracranial Embolism
Related concepts
- Brain Ischemia
- Blood Clot
- Cerebral Embolism
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 23,033 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Ischemic Stroke” (counts retrieved 2026-10-29). 22,401 of them (97.3%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is 2020 onward with 22,401 records.
Reviews account for 3,578 records (15.5%) and meta-analyses for 1,224. Randomized controlled trials number 1,061 (4.6%) as a share of all records on the topic.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 0 |
| 2000-2009 | 2 |
| 2010-2019 | 869 |
| 2020 onward | 22,401 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 3,578 | 15.5% |
| Meta-analyses | 1,224 | 5.3% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 1,061 | 4.6% |
Method: PubMed query "Ischemic Stroke"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-10-29.
Reading the evidence in cardiovascular medicine
Cardiovascular medicine has an unusually large body of randomized trials, so the type of outcome matters: hard clinical events such as death, heart attack and stroke carry more weight than changes in blood pressure, cholesterol or imaging markers that only predict risk. Observational studies can show associations but are confounded by age, lifestyle and other illness. Check whether a result is about prevention or treatment, the baseline risk of participants, and the absolute rather than only the relative size of any benefit.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extracellular CIRP Dysregulates Microglial Efferocytosis in Acute Ischemic Stroke via the TLR4/miR-155/MafB Axis | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 2 | cc by PMID 42603289 · DOI · PMC13477243 |
| Analytical Methods and Application of Single-Cell and Single-Nucleus Transcriptomics in the Study of Ischemic Stroke | 2026 | Review article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 1 | cc by PMID 42509846 · DOI · PMC13406199 |
| Endovascular therapy in acute ischaemic stroke patients with prestroke dependency-an EVA-TRISP cohort study | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 1 | cc by PMID 42627880 · DOI · PMC13496238 |
Extracellular CIRP Dysregulates Microglial Efferocytosis in Acute Ischemic Stroke via the TLR4/miR-155/MafB Axis [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Efferocytosis, the phagocytic clearance of dying cells, by microglia is crucial for limiting neuroinflammation and promoting resolution in ischemic stroke.
- Closing excerpt
- This study uncovers a previously unknown pathway through which eCIRP signaling impairs neuroprotective efferocytic microglial function in ischemic stroke, suggesting that targeting eCIRP may promote functional recovery after stroke.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (194 words)
Efferocytosis, the phagocytic clearance of dying cells, by microglia is crucial for limiting neuroinflammation and promoting resolution in ischemic stroke. Extracellular cold-inducible RNA-binding protein (eCIRP) is an inflammatory mediator that impairs macrophage bacterial phagocytosis in sepsis and radiation injury, but its role in microglial efferocytosis in ischemic stroke has not yet been studied. Using a transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) model of ischemic stroke, this study demonstrated that eCIRP is released into the cerebrospinal fluid and microglial expression of the crucial efferocytic receptor MerTK decreases in tMCAO mice. CIRP deficiency significantly improved MerTK expression and microglial efferocytosis in tMCAO mice, reducing brain infarction, inflammation, neurological deficit, and survival in acute stroke. eCIRP induces pro-inflammatory micro-RNA 155 (miR-155) via TLR4, which suppresses its target pro-efferocytic transcription factor MAF bZIP (MafB), downregulating MerTK and the downstream cytoskeletal regulators, to impair microglial efferocytosis. Pharmacological blockade of eCIRP-TLR4 interaction using small peptide C23 attenuates miR-155 induction, restores MerTK expression, rescues microglial efferocytosis, and improves outcomes in tMCAO mice. This study uncovers a previously unknown pathway through which eCIRP signaling impairs neuroprotective efferocytic microglial function in ischemic stroke, suggesting that targeting eCIRP may promote functional recovery after stroke.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42603289 · DOI · PMC13477243
Analytical Methods and Application of Single-Cell and Single-Nucleus Transcriptomics in the Study of Ischemic Stroke [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- BackgroundIschemic stroke remains a leading cause of mortality and long-term disability worldwide, with complex and heterogeneous pathophysiological processes.
- Closing excerpt
- Future studies may benefit from standardized designs and coordinated analytical strategies to facilitate more systematic investigations.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (234 words)
BackgroundIschemic stroke remains a leading cause of mortality and long-term disability worldwide, with complex and heterogeneous pathophysiological processes. Single-cell and single-nucleus RNA sequencing (sc/snRNA-seq) has been increasingly applied to investigate cellular heterogeneity at high resolutions.MethodsWe systematically searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase to identify studies that applied sc/snRNA-seq in ischemic stroke research. Based on the retrieved literature, we summarized the bioinformatic analytical methods and application strategies reported in these studies, focusing on how sc/snRNA-seq has been utilized across different research contexts.ResultsThe application of sc/snRNA-seq in ischemic stroke has expanded rapidly across species and sample types. A wide range of downstream bioinformatic analyses have been employed, including clustering, differential expression analysis, trajectory inference, gene regulatory network analysis, and cell-cell communication analysis. These approaches have been applied to investigate diverse biological processes in ischemic stroke. In addition, these analytical strategies have been extended to multiple biological contexts, including extracerebral tissues, stroke-related modifiers, and their associated complications. Furthermore, integrative analytical approaches that combine multiple datasets, bulk transcriptomics, and other omics data have been increasingly utilized. Advances in temporal and spatial resolutions have enabled analyses across different stages and anatomical regions.ConclusionsThis review systematically summarizes the analytical methods and application strategies of sc/snRNA-seq in ischemic stroke. These approaches provide a structured perspective for understanding the application of single-cell technologies in this field. Future studies may benefit from standardized designs and coordinated analytical strategies to facilitate more systematic investigations.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42509846 · DOI · PMC13406199
Endovascular therapy in acute ischaemic stroke patients with prestroke dependency-an EVA-TRISP cohort study [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- IntroductionAcute EVT may be withheld from stroke patients with prestroke dependency on the help of others in daily activities because of insufficient randomised evidence.
- Closing excerpt
- This suggests that EVT should not be withheld solely on the basis of prestroke dependency.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (232 words)
IntroductionAcute EVT may be withheld from stroke patients with prestroke dependency on the help of others in daily activities because of insufficient randomised evidence. Using data from a large registry, we aimed to improve evidence for EVT decision-making in these patients.Patients and methodsMulticentre international observational study from the EndoVascular Therapy and ThRombolysis in Ischemic Stroke Patients (EVA-TRISP) collaboration comparing prestroke-dependent (prestroke mRS 3-4) with prestroke-independent patients (prestroke mRS 0-2). We used multivariate logistic regression analysis and report odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs. Outcomes were poor functional outcome in survivors (defined relative to the prestroke mRS), 3 month mortality, sICH occurrence and unsuccessful recanalisation.ResultsOf 13,525 eligible patients, 1436 (10.6%) were prestroke-dependent. These patients were older (median 84 vs 73 years), more often women (61.0% vs 46.7%) and had higher NIHSS score (median 16 vs 14 points). While the odds of death (ORadjusted 2.33 [95% CI, 2.04-2.66]; 48.6% vs 19.6%) and unsuccessful recanalisation (ORadjusted 1.16 [95% CI, 1.02-1.33]; 31.0% vs 26.6%) were higher in prestroke-dependent patients, there was no evidence of increased odds of poor functional outcome in survivors (ORadjusted 0.68 [95% CI, 0.57-0.81]; 42.8% vs 40.0%) and sICH (ORadjusted 0.72 [95% CI, 0.53-0.98]; 3.8% vs 4.6%).Discussion and conclusionsDespite higher mortality and recanalisation failure, prestroke-dependent patients did not have worse functional outcomes among survivors or higher sICH risk. This suggests that EVT should not be withheld solely on the basis of prestroke dependency.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42627880 · DOI · PMC13496238
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article Tenecteplase vs Alteplase in Acute Ischemic Stroke Within 4.5 Hours: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials [4]
- Research article Thrombolysis for Ischemic Stroke Beyond the 4.5-Hour Window: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials [5]
- Research article Intensive vs Conventional Blood Pressure Control After Thrombectomy in Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis [6]
- Research article Collaboration on the optimal timing of anticoagulation after ischaemic stroke and atrial fibrillation: a systematic review and prospective individual participant data meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (CATALYST) [7]
- Research article Timing of oral anticoagulants initiation for atrial fibrillation after acute ischemic stroke: A systematic review and meta-analysis [8]
- Research article Residual Risk of Recurrent Stroke Despite Anticoagulation in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis [9]
References
- Lapin D, Aylar D, Sharma A, Wang P. Extracellular CIRP Dysregulates Microglial Efferocytosis in Acute Ischemic Stroke via the TLR4/miR-155/MafB Axis. . 2026. PMID 42603289 · DOI · PMC13477243
- Mu C, Ding Y, Weiss A, Rosenfeld S, Li F, Geng X. Analytical Methods and Application of Single-Cell and Single-Nucleus Transcriptomics in the Study of Ischemic Stroke. . 2026. PMID 42509846 · DOI · PMC13406199
- Piot I, Enz LS, Altersberger VL, Trüssel S, De Marchis GM, Dittrich T, et al.. Endovascular therapy in acute ischaemic stroke patients with prestroke dependency-an EVA-TRISP cohort study. . 2026. PMID 42627880 · DOI · PMC13496238
- Palaiodimou L, Katsanos AH, Turc G, Asimakopoulos AG, Mavridis D, Schellinger PD, et al.. Tenecteplase vs Alteplase in Acute Ischemic Stroke Within 4.5 Hours: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials. Neurology. 2024. PMID 39413337 · DOI
- Günkan A, Ferreira MY, Vilardo M, Scarcia L, Bocanegra-Becerra JE, Cardoso LJC, et al.. Thrombolysis for Ischemic Stroke Beyond the 4.5-Hour Window: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials. Stroke. 2025. PMID 39882605 · DOI
- Ghozy S, Mortezaei A, Elfil M, Abdelghaffar M, Kobeissi H, Aladawi M, et al.. Intensive vs Conventional Blood Pressure Control After Thrombectomy in Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. JAMA Netw Open. 2024. PMID 38386320 · DOI · PMC10884884
- Dehbi HM, Fischer U, Åsberg S, Milling TJ, Abend S, Ahmed N, et al.. Collaboration on the optimal timing of anticoagulation after ischaemic stroke and atrial fibrillation: a systematic review and prospective individual participant data meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (CATALYST). Lancet. 2025. PMID 40570866 · DOI
- Palaiodimou L, Stefanou MI, Katsanos AH, De Marchis GM, Aguiar De Sousa D, Dawson J, et al.. Timing of oral anticoagulants initiation for atrial fibrillation after acute ischemic stroke: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur Stroke J. 2024. PMID 38742375 · DOI · PMC11569516
- McCabe JJ, Cheung Y, Foley M, Brennan SO, Buckley J, Renom PC, et al.. Residual Risk of Recurrent Stroke Despite Anticoagulation in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. JAMA Neurol. 2025. PMID 40394992 · DOI · PMC12096328
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-10-31; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-10-29.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.