Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: Endovascular Therapy Following Imaging Evaluation for Ischemic Stroke 3
Brief Summary: This is a study to evaluate the hypothesis that FDA cleared thrombectomy devices plus medical management leads to superior clinical outcomes in acute ischemic stroke patients at 90 days when compared to medical management alone in appropriately selected subjects with the Target mismatch profile and an MCA (M1 segment) or ICA occlusion who can be randomized and have endovascular treatment initiated between 6-16 hours after last seen well.


Options:
A: Clinical Inclusion Criteria:

1. Signs \& symptoms consistent w/ the diagnosis of acute anterior circulation ischemic stroke
2. Age 18-90 years
3. Baseline NIHSSS is ≥ 6 and remains ≥6 immediately prior to randomization
4. Endovascular treatment can be initiated (femoral puncture) between 6 and 16 hours of stroke onset. Stroke onset is defined as the time the patient was last known to be at their neurologic baseline (wake-up strokes are eligible if they meet the above time limits).
5. modified Rankin Scale less than or equal to 2 prior to qualifying stroke (functionally independent for all ADLs)
6. Patient/Legally Authorized Representative has signed the Informed Consent form.

Clinical Exclusion Criteria:

1. Other serious, advanced, or terminal illness (investigator judgment) or life expectancy is less than 6 months.
2. Pre-existing medical, neurological or psychiatric disease that would confound the neurological or functional evaluations
3. Pregnant
4. Unable to undergo a contrast brain perfusion scan with either MRI or CT
5. Known allergy to iodine that precludes an endovascular procedure
6. Treated with tPA \>4.5 hours after time last known well
7. Treated with tPA 3-4.5 hours after last known well AND any of the following; age \>80, current anticoagulant use, history of diabetes or prior stroke, NIHSS \>25
8. Known hereditary or acquired hemorrhagic diathesis, coagulation factor deficiency; recent oral anticoagulant therapy with INR \> 3 (recent use of one of the new oral anticoagulants is not an exclusion if estimated GFR \> 30 ml/min).
9. Seizures at stroke onset if it precludes obtaining an accurate baseline NIHSS
10. Baseline blood glucose of \<50mg/dL (2.78 mmol) or \>400mg/dL (22.20 mmol)
11. Baseline platelet count \< 50,000/uL
12. Severe, sustained hypertension (Systolic BP \>185 mmHg or Diastolic BP \>110 mmHg)
13. Current participation in another investigational drug or device study
14. Presumed septic embolus; suspicion of bacterial endocarditis
15. Clot retrieval attempted using a neurothrombectomy device prior to 6 hrs from symptom onset
16. Any other condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, precludes an endovascular procedure or poses a significant hazard to the subject if an endovascular procedure was performed.

Neuroimaging Inclusion Criteria:

1. ICA or MCA-M1 occlusion (carotid occlusions can be cervical or intracranial; with or without tandem MCA lesions) by MRA or CTA

   AND
2. Target Mismatch Profile on CT perfusion or MRI (ischemic core volume is \< 70 ml, mismatch ratio is \>/= 1.8 and mismatch volume\* is \>/= 15 ml)

Alternative neuroimaging inclusion criteria (if perfusion imaging or CTA/MRA is technically inadequate):

A) If CTA (or MRA) is technically inadequate:

Tmax\>6s perfusion deficit consistent with an ICA or MCA-M1 occlusion AND Target Mismatch Profile (ischemic core volume is \< 70 ml, mismatch ratio is \>1.8 and mismatch volume is \>15 ml as determined by RAPID software)

B) If MRP is technically inadequate:

ICA or MCA-M1 occlusion (carotid occlusions can be cervical or intracranial; with or without tandem MCA lesions) by MRA (or CTA, if MRA is technically inadequate and a CTA was performed within 60 minutes prior to the MRI) AND DWI lesion volume \< 25 ml

C) If CTP is technically inadequate:

Patient can be screened with MRI and randomized if neuroimaging criteria are met.

Neuroimaging Exclusion Criteria:

1. ASPECTS score \<6 on non-contrast CT (if patient is enrolled based on CT perfusion criteria)
2. Evidence of intracranial tumor (except small meningioma) acute intracranial hemorrhage, neoplasm, or arteriovenous malformation
3. Significant mass effect with midline shift
4. Evidence of internal carotid artery dissection that is flow limiting or aortic dissection
5. Intracranial stent implanted in the same vascular territory that precludes the safe deployment/removal of the neurothrombectomy device
6. Acute symptomatic arterial occlusions in more than one vascular territory confirmed on CTA/MRA (e.g., bilateral MCA occlusions, or an MCA and a basilar artery occlusion).
B: Inclusion Criteria

* Age: 18 through 82 years (i.e., candidates must have had their 18th birthday, but not had their 83rd birthday)
* Initiation of intravenous rt-PA within 3 hours of onset of stroke symptoms. Time of onset is defined as the last time when the subject was witnessed to be at baseline (i.e., subjects who have stroke symptoms upon awakening will be considered to have their onset at beginning of sleep)
* An NIHSSS \>/= 10 at the time that intravenous rt-PA is begun or an NIHSSS \>7 and \<10 with an occlusion seen in M1, ICA or basilar artery on CTA at institutions where baseline CTA imaging is standard of care for acute stroke patients.
* Investigator verification that the subject has received/ is receiving the correct IV rt-PA dose for the estimated weight prior to randomization

Exclusion Criteria

* History of stroke in the past 3 months
* Previous intra-cranial hemorrhage, neoplasm, subarachnoid hemorrhage, or arteriovenous malformation
* Clinical presentation suggests a subarachnoid hemorrhage, even if initial CT scan is normal
* Hypertension at time of treatment; systolic BP \> 185 or diastolic \> 110 mm Hg) or aggressive measures to lower BP to below these limits are needed.
* Presumed septic embolus, or suspicion of bacterial endocarditis
* Presumed pericarditis, including pericarditis after acute MI
* Suspicion of aortic dissection
* Recent (within 30 days) surgery or biopsy of parenchymal organ
* Recent (within 30 days) trauma, with internal injuries or ulcerative wounds
* Recent (within 90 days) severe head trauma or head trauma with loss of consciousness
* Any active or recent (within 30 days) hemorrhage
* Pts with known hereditary or acquired hemorrhagic diathesis, coagulation factor deficiency or oral anticoagulant therapy require coagulation labs results prior to enrollment. Any subject with INR \> 1.7 or institutionally equivalent prothrombin time is excluded. Patients without history or suspicion of coagulopathy do not require INR or prothrombin time lab results to be available prior to enrollment.
* Females of childbearing potential who are known to be pregnant and/or lactating or who have positive pregnancy tests on admission
* Baseline lab values: glucose \< 50 mg/dl or \> 400 mg/dl, platelets \<100,000, or Hct \<25
* Requires hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis, or has a contraindication to an angiogram for whatever reason
* Received heparin or a direct thrombin inhibitor (Angiomax, argatroban, Refludan, Pradaxa) within 48 hours must have a normal partial thromboplastin time (PTT) to be eligible
* History of an arterial puncture at a non-compressible site or a lumbar puncture in the previous 7 days
* History of seizure at onset of stroke
* History of a pre-existing neurological or psychiatric disease that would confound the neurological or functional evaluations, mRS score at baseline must be \< 2. This excludes patients who live in a nursing home or who are not fully independent for activities of daily living (toileting, dressing, eating, cooking and preparing meals, etc.)
* Other serious, advanced, or terminal illness
* Any other condition that the investigator feels would pose a significant hazard to the subject if Activase (Alteplase) therapy is initiated
* Current participation in another research drug treatment protocol
* Informed consent is not or cannot be obtained.
* High density lesion consistent with hemorrhage of any degree on baseline imaging
* Significant mass effect with midline shift on baseline imaging
* Large (\>1/3 of the middle cerebral artery) regions of clear hypodensity on the baseline CT scan. (ASPECTS of \< 4 can be used as a guideline) Sulcal effacement and/or loss of grey-white differentiation are not contraindications to tx
* CT evidence of intrapararenchymal tumor
* Baseline CTA without evidence of arterial occlusion
C: Inclusion Criteria:

* Female or male inpatients
* Age: 18 - 80 years.
* Clinical diagnosis of ischemic stroke causing a measurable neurological deficit defined as impairment of language, motor function, cognition and/or gaze, vision or neglect. Ischemic stroke is defined as an event characterized by the sudden onset of an acute focal neurologic deficit presumed to be due to cerebral ischemia after CT scan excludes hemorrhage.
* Onset of symptoms between 3 and 4 hours prior to initiation of administration of study drug.
* Stroke symptoms are to be present for at least 30 minutes and have not significantly improved before treatment. Symptoms must be distinguishable from an episode of generalized ischemia (i.e. syncope), seizure, or migraine disorder.
* Patient is willing to participate voluntarily and to sign a written patient informed consent. Informed consent will be obtained from each patient or the subject's legally authorized representative or relatives, or deferred where applicable, according to the regulatory and legal requirements of the participating country.
* Patients who are unable to sign but who are able to understand the meaning of participation in the study may give an oral witnessed informed consent. These patients have to make clear undoubtfully that they are willing to participate voluntarily and must be able to understand an explanation of the contents of he information sheet.
* Willingness and ability to comply with the protocol.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Evidence of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) on the CT-scan.
* Symptoms of ischaemic attack began more than 4 hours and 30 minutes prior to infusion start or when time of symptom onset is unknown.
* Minor neurological deficit or symptoms rapidly improving before start of infusion.
* Severe stroke as assessed clinically (e.g. NIHSS\>25) and/or by appropriate imaging techniques.
* Epileptic seizure at onset of stroke
* Symptoms suggestive of subarachnoid haemorrhage, even if the CT-scan is normal.
* Administration of heparin within the previous 48 hours and a thromboplastin time exceeding the upper limit of normal for laboratory
* History of prior stroke and concomitant diabetes. \* Prior stroke within the last 3 months
* Platelet below 100,000/mm3. \* Systolic blood pressure \>185 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure \>110 mmHg, or aggressive management (IV medication) necessary to reduce BP to these limits.
* Blood glucose \<50 or \> 400 mg/dl (\< 2.77 or \> 22.15 mmol / l). \* Known haemorraghic diathesis
* Patients receiving oral anticoagulants. \* Manifest or recent severe or dangerous bleeding
* Known history of or suspected intracranial haemorrhage
* Suspected subarachnoid haemorrhage or condition after subarachnoid haemorrhage from aneurysm
* History of central nervous system damage (i.e. neoplasm, aneurysm, intracranial or spinal surgery)
* Haemorrhagic retinopathy,e.g. in diabetes (vision disturbances may indicate haemorrhagic retinopathy)
* Recent (less than 10 days) traumatic external heart massage, obstetrical delivery, recent puncture of a non-compressible blood-vessel (e.g. subclavian or jugular vein puncture.
* bacterial endocarditis, pericarditis.\* Acute pancreatitis
* Documented ulcerative gastrointestinal disease during the last 3 months, oesophageal varices, arterial- aneurysm, arterial/venous malformation
* Neoplasm with increased bleeding risk
D: Inclusion Criteria A. Clinical (Heterogeneous sampling frame)

1. Acute ischemic stroke
2. Age 18 or greater
3. Onset (last-seen-well) time to randomization time \< 12 hours.
4. Disabling stroke defined as a baseline NIHSS \> 5 at the time of randomization.
5. Pre-stroke (24 hours prior to stroke onset) independent functional status in activities of daily living with modified Barthel Index \> 90. Patient must be living in their own home, apartment or seniors lodge where no nursing care is required.

   B. Imaging (Homogeneous target population)
6. Confirmed symptomatic intracranial occlusion, based on single phase, multiphase or dynamic CTA, at one or more of the following locations: Carotid T/L, M1 MCA, or M1-MCA equivalent (2 or more M2-MCAs). Anterior temporal artery is not considered an M2.
7. Non-contrast CT and CTA for trial eligibility performed or repeated at ESCAPE stroke center with endovascular suite on-site.
8. Endovascular treatment intended to be initiated (groin puncture) within 60 minutes of baseline non-contrast CT with target baseline non-contrast CT to first recanalization of 90 minutes.
9. Signed informed consent or appropriate signed deferral of consent where approved.

Exclusion Criteria

1. Baseline non-contrast CT reveals a moderate/large core defined as extensive early ischemic changes of ASPECTS 0-5 in the territory of symptomatic intracranial occlusion.
2. Other confirmation of a moderate to large core defined one of three ways:

   1. On a single phase, multiphase or dynamic CTA: no or minimal collaterals in a region greater than 50% of the MCA territory when compared to pial filling on the contralateral side (multiphase/dynamic CTA preferred) OR
   2. On CT perfusion (\>8 cm coverage): a low CBV and very low CBF ASPECTS \<6 AND in the symptomatic MCA territory OR
   3. On CT perfusion(\<8 cm coverage): a region of low CBV and very low CBF \>1/3 of the CTP imaged symptomatic MCA territory.
3. Groin puncture is not possible within 60 minutes of the first slice of non-contrast CT acquisition (please note that if CTP is performed it should be done after CTA).
4. No femoral pulses or very difficult endovascular access that will result in a non-contrast CT-to-recanalization time that is longer than 90 minutes, or will result in an inability to deliver endovascular therapy.
5. Pregnancy; if a woman is of child-bearing potential a urine or serum beta HCG test is positive.
6. Severe contrast allergy or absolute contraindication to iodinated contrast.
7. Suspected intracranial dissection as a cause of stroke.
8. Clinical history, past imaging or clinical judgment suggests that the intracranial occlusion is chronic.
9. Patient has a severe or fatal comorbid illness that will prevent improvement or follow-up or that will render the procedure unlikely to benefit the patient.

Answer: A