Bottom Line: In patients with acute ischemic stroke due to medium or distal vessel occlusion, mechanical thrombectomy did not improve functional outcomes at 3 months and was associated with an increased risk of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage.
Additional Information
In this randomized clinical trial conducted at 22 stroke centers in France, patients with acute ischemic stroke, an NIHSS score of ?5 or significant aphasia, and a medium or distal vessel occlusion were randomized to medical therapy or mechanical thrombectomy. A total of 244 patients were enrolled, and the primary outcome was the modified Rankin Scale score at 3 months. The trial was stopped early because thrombectomy was associated with an increased risk of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage.
References
Clarençon F, Bala F, Baptiste A, et al. Mechanical Thrombectomy in Ischemic Stroke With a Medium or Distal Arterial Occlusion: The DISCOUNT Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. Published online July 22, 2026. doi:10.1001/jama.2026.8977