Successful thrombolysis, early luxury perfusion, and spectacular outcome after acute ischemic stroke

Abstract

Timely recanalization in acute ischemic stroke often results in good clinical outcomes. However, sudden recanalization and increased blood flow into the ischemic brain tissue may be harmful in some patients. Impaired autoregulation in early poststroke period occasionally results in 'luxury perfusion,' due to excessive vasodilatation of collaterals. The relationship between hyperperfusion and tissue outcome in acute ischemic stroke has remained unclear. We present multimodal neuroimaging features of luxury perfusion in a patient after successful thrombolysis for acute left middle cerebral artery thrombotic occlusion. © 2012 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.