Occasionally, off-label use can be as safe and effective as the originally approved method, sometimes more so. This appears to be the case for eptifibatide, according to a study published online Feb. 5 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions.

The recent stroke conference highlighted a score of advancements, proof of the commitment and creativity devoted to this complex condition.

Even a minor stroke can lead to disability if paired with an intracranial occlusion. Researchers explored the use of tenecteplase (TNK) tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) to safely treat this type of stroke before it progressed.

Could something as simple as water create a sea change in stroke care? A study unveiled Feb. 12 pointed to dehydration as a factor in poor stroke outcomes, making rehydration a possible pathway for improvement, the lead researcher told Cardiovascular Business. 

Providing more proof that time is brain, a randomized trial found that promptly performing thrombectomy with a stent retriever in carefully selected ischemic stroke patients led to better outcomes than did alteplase treatment alone.

Physicians, take note: Researchers may have found a link between stroke severity and vitamin D deficiency. These findings were presented Feb. 11 at the American Stroke Association’s 2015 International Stroke Conference in Nashville, Tenn.

For some patients with acute ischemic stroke, rapid endovascular treatment may offer improved outcomes, according to findings presented Feb. 11 at the American Stroke Association’s 2015 International Stroke Conference (ISC) in Nashville, Tenn.

The FDA paved the way for use of a neuroprotection and stent system that allows access to diseased carotid arteries through the neck rather than the femoral artery.