Stroke is one of the top causes of death and disability in the world. But fast and accurate treatment can make a big difference.
A new study from Brigham and Women’s Hospital shows that researchers have developed a blood test that could help doctors quickly identify a dangerous type of stroke called large vessel occlusion, or LVO stroke.
This breakthrough test combines two blood markers with a simple clinical score to detect LVO strokes with high accuracy. The results of the study were published in the journal Stroke: Vascular and Interventional Neurology.
LVO strokes happen when a major artery in the brain is blocked. Because these blockages stop oxygen and nutrients from reaching brain cells, damage can happen within minutes. These strokes are considered medical emergencies.
The best treatment is a surgical procedure called mechanical thrombectomy, which removes the blockage and restores blood flow to the brain.
Dr. Joshua Bernstock, the lead author of the study, explained that this new test could help stroke patients get the right care faster. When someone has a stroke, every second counts. Getting treatment quickly can prevent serious disability or even death.
The new test looks at two specific proteins in the blood. One is called GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein), which is also linked to brain bleeding and head injuries. The other is called D-dimer, which is a protein fragment that increases when blood clots form and break down.
The researchers also used a clinical scoring system called FAST-ED, which is used by emergency responders to assess stroke symptoms. When the blood markers were combined with the FAST-ED score, the test was able to identify LVO strokes with 93% accuracy in ruling in and 81% sensitivity in picking up true cases.
Another important finding was that the test was able to rule out patients with brain bleeds, which are often hard to tell apart from LVO strokes. This is important because brain bleeds and LVO strokes have very different treatments. Getting the diagnosis wrong could delay the right care.
The study followed 323 patients in Florida who were thought to be having strokes between May 2021 and August 2022. The test worked best when used within six hours of the first symptoms.
The team believes this tool could be especially useful in ambulances and emergency rooms, and even in low-resource settings where advanced imaging like CT scans may not be available.
Dr. Bernstock and his team are planning more research, including a new trial where the test will be used in ambulances to help speed up decisions about where to send patients. Another trial will look at skipping standard imaging and sending patients straight to treatment if the test suggests a serious stroke.
This tool could also be used in the future to assess patients with brain injuries, not just strokes. The goal is to save time and lives by getting the right diagnosis and care started as soon as possible.
As Dr. Bernstock puts it: “Time is brain.” Every minute saved could mean a better outcome for the patient.
If you care about stroke, please read studies that diets high in flavonoids could help reduce stroke risk, and MIND diet could slow down cognitive decline after stroke.
For more health information, please see recent studies about antioxidants that could help reduce the risk of dementia, and tea and coffee may help lower your risk of stroke, dementia.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
