Local arterial administration of acidified malonate as an adjunct therapy to mechanical thrombectomy in ischemic stroke

Ischemic stroke is increasingly treated by mechanical thrombectomy (MT) with the more rapid and complete reperfusion of the ischemic tissue, enhancing patient outcome, compared to recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) alone. Even so, there is still extensive brain infarction and disability following MT, which is exacerbated by ischemia–reperfusion injury (IRI) and other pathological processes during reperfusion. Hence, an adjunct therapy to MT that decreases IRI should enhance patient outcomes.

To test this possibility, we adapted the transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) mouse model to allow local intra-arterial administration of acidified disodium malonate (aDSM) to decrease IRI as the ischemic tissue was reperfused. Administration of aDSM (160 mg/kg; pH 6) during reperfusion decreased brain infarct volume by ∼60% when assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) 24 h after reperfusion and improved neurological function.

These findings suggest aDSM as a potential adjunct therapy to further improve outcomes for stroke patients treated by MT.