Reduction of Edema With a Specialized Cocktail for Ultra-early Management in Ischemic Stroke

Overview

Large ischemic stroke is a severe subtype of acute ischemic stroke (AIS), often leading to malignant cerebral edema, elevated intracranial pressure, and poor functional outcomes. Despite early aggressive treatment, malignant cerebral edema remains a major determinant of prognosis, even in cases of successful recanalization. Preclinical studies suggest that a pharmacological cocktail (PPA) may alleviate cerebral edema by modulating extracellular potassium balance, maintaining aquaporin-4 expression, and enhancing lymphatic drainage. This multicenter, randomized controlled trial (RCT) aims to assess the safety and efficacy of PPA in reducing cerebral edema and improving outcomes in patients with large ischemic stroke. The study will enroll 68 patients with MCA-territory infarction (80-300 mL infarct volume or ASPECTS 1-5), who are not undergoing decompressive craniectomy. Participants will be randomized to receive PPA therapy or standard treatment. The primary outcome is cerebral edema at 5-7 days, with secondary outcomes including 90-day functional outcomes (mRS) and safety assessments.

Detailed description

Large ischemic stroke is a severe subtype of acute ischemic stroke (AIS), often leading to malignant cerebral edema, elevated intracranial pressure (ICP), and poor functional outcomes. Despite early aggressive treatment, malignant cerebral edema remains a major determinant of prognosis, even in cases of successful recanalization. Patients without endovascular therapy (EVT) also face significant risks of cerebral edema and intracranial hypertension, which contribute to high morbidity and mortality. Preclinical studies suggest that a pharmacological cocktail (PPA) may alleviate cerebral edema by modulating extracellular potassium balance, maintaining aquaporin-4 expression, and enhancing lymphatic drainage. In ischemic stroke models, PPA has demonstrated the potential to accelerate potassium homeostasis and mitigate edema formation, while in traumatic brain injury models, PPA has been shown to promote lymphatic clearance and reduce brain swelling.

This multicenter, randomized controlled trial (RCT) aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of PPA in reducing cerebral edema in patients with large ischemic stroke. A total of 68 patients with MCA-territory infarction (80-300 mL infarct volume or ASPECTS 1-5) who are not undergoing decompressive craniectomy will be enrolled and randomly assigned to receive PPA therapy or standard treatment in a 1:1 ratio. The primary endpoint is cerebral edema at 5-7 days, assessed by follow-up imaging. Secondary endpoints include functional outcomes at 90 days (mRS) and safety assessments, including adverse events such as hypotension and intracranial hypertension.

The study intervention consists of a PPA regimen over five days, including terazosin or urapidil, and propranolol or esmolol, with individualized blood pressure management based on recanalization status. Imaging and safety monitoring will be conducted throughout the study, and adverse events will be closely tracked and analyzed quarterly. To ensure ethical compliance, informed consent will be obtained from patients or their legally authorized representatives, with mechanisms in place for reconfirmation if the patient regains decision-making capacity. This trial seeks to establish a novel pharmacological approach for cerebral edema management, with the ultimate goal of improving neurological outcomes in large ischemic stroke patients.

Interventions

• Drug PPA Intervention
  Participants in this group will receive a pharmacological cocktail (PPA) for five days in addition to standard medical treatment for acute ischemic stroke. The regimen includes terazosin or urapidil, and propranolol or esmolol, with individualized blood pressure management. The specific protocol is as follows: * Terazosin (no less than 1 mg orally or via nasogastric tube, nightly) or Urapidil (100 mg in 30 mL saline, IV infusion at no less than 2 mL/h) * Propranolol (10 mg orally or via nasogas

Primary outcome measures

• Cerebral Edema at 5-7 Days [Time frame: 5-7 days post-treatment]

Secondary outcome measures (5)

• 90-Day Functional Outcome (Modified Rankin Scale, mRS) [Time frame: 90 days post-treatment]
• Incidence of Hypotension During the Treatment Period [Time frame: During the 5-day treatment period]
• Need for Decompressive Craniectomy [Time frame: Up to 7 days post-treatment]
• Mortality at 90 Days [Time frame: 90 days post-treatment]
• Incidence of Serious Adverse Events (SAEs) [Time frame: Up to 90 days post-treatment]

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion criteria

• Age ≥18 years
• Clinical diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in the middle cerebral artery (MCA) territory
• Symptom onset within 3 days (≤72 hours) before randomization
• Infarct volume of 80-300 mL or ASPECTS 1-5 involving at least two cortical regions
• Not scheduled for decompressive craniectomy (either not indicated or declined by the patient/family)
• Written informed consent obtained from the patient or legally authorized representative

Exclusion criteria

• Baseline evidence of brain herniation or severe hypotension (SBP <90 mmHg)
• Contraindications to PPA medications (terazosin, urapidil, esmolol, propranolol), such as asthma or severe bradycardia
• Severe comorbidities that may interfere with efficacy assessment or safety monitoring (e.g., end-stage organ failure, advanced malignancy)
• Pregnancy or lactation
• Participation in another interventional trial that may influence study outcomes

Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.

Healthy volunteers: No

Study design

Allocation

Randomized

Model

Parallel assignment

Masking

Single blind

Primary purpose

Treatment

Study locations

China · 1 center

• Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, School of Medicine — Hangzhou

Identifiers

NCT: NCT06863571 · RESCUE-IS

Primary sources (government registries)

• ClinicalTrials.gov (US NIH)

View this study on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗