Dear Colleagues,

Despite the development of advanced neuroimaging and neuro-interventional techniques, stroke remains a devastating disease with an uncertain final outcome. Mortality rates from stroke are falling worldwide, but this disease is still the leading cause of invalidity. Modern recanalization techniques have made great progress towards the causal treatment of stroke. Unfortunately, however, at least a third of treated patients do not undergo reperfusion despite sufficient recanalization of the occluded blood vessel. New insights into stroke pathology indicate there is progressive neuronal loss and the development of secondary neurodegeneration following acute vascular injury. Published data also suggests that progressive neuronal loss and neurodegeneration after a stroke alters the levels of amyloid beta and leads to cognitive decline, thus showing similarities with so called “neurodegeneration”. However, pure recanalization is often insufficient to achieve reperfusion, and therefore futile recanalization and reperfusion injury remain important clinical problems. Neuroprotection offers some hope in this regard and may address several unanswered questions in vascular brain pathology. Unfortunately, despite some experimental success with neuroprotection, there is still a lack of evidence for clinical efficacy. The aim of this special issue is to highlight ongoing trials and research in neuroprotection, as well as to provide a critical overview of the neuroprotective drugs used in both experimental and clinical settings. This will include a discussion of various neuroprotective agents and the possible use of neuroprotection strategies for all types of stroke.

Dr. Zdravka Poljakovic

Guest Editor