New Blood Test May Identify Risk of Severe Stroke

A groundbreaking new blood test developed by researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston may revolutionize the way doctors diagnose and treat strokes, particularly the highly lethal type known as large vessel occlusion (LVO).

The test, which analyzes specific proteins in the blood, can accurately determine whether a patient has suffered an LVO stroke. This crucial information allows doctors to quickly perform a surgical procedure called mechanical thrombectomy to remove the clot causing the stroke.

Dr. Joshua Bernstock, the senior study author, emphasized the importance of early intervention in stroke cases, stating that the sooner the treatment is administered, the better the patient’s outcome will be. The new blood test, combined with a stroke assessment tool called FAST-ED, showed promising results in detecting LVO strokes with high specificity and sensitivity.

The potential impact of this new diagnostic tool is significant, as it could ensure that more stroke patients receive timely and life-saving care. The researchers are now planning to test the effectiveness of the blood test in ambulances, with the goal of improving outcomes for stroke patients worldwide.

This innovative approach to diagnosing strokes could be a game-changer in the field of emergency medicine, offering a simple and accessible solution for identifying and treating strokes quickly and effectively.