Effect of Remote Ischemic Preconditioning on Early Neurological Deterioration in Acute Perforating Artery Infarction

Penetrating artery infarction (PAI) is a single small deep infarct within the territory of a perforating artery, accounting for 15.3%-25% of all ischemic strokes. Early neurological deterioration (END) is a critical factor contributing to poor prognosis in PAI. END is generally defined as an increase of ≥2 points on the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) within 7 days after stroke onset. Remote ischemic preconditioning (RIC) involves repeated, low-intensity ischemic training of both upper limbs to enhance the resistance of organs to severe ischemic injury. RIC confers protective effects on ischemic brain tissue and may serve as a new therapeutic approach for intracranial atherosclerosis and acute cerebral infarction. However, large-scale randomized controlled trials evaluating the clinical efficacy of RIC in acute PAI are lacking. Therefore, this study aims to conduct a multicenter, prospective, randomized clinical trial to scientifically assess the clinical efficacy of RIC in patients with acute PAI, providing evidence-based support for its application in this population.

In this trial, patients with acute PAI (within 48 hours from onset to randomization) will be included. In the screening stage, participants who meet the trial's inclusion criteria-after completing screening/baseline assessment and signing the informed consent-will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to one of the following two treatment groups: the experimental group will receive RIC (200 mmHg), and the control group will receive sham RIC (60 mmHg). The primary end point is the incidence of END within 5 days after randomization.

Inclusion criteria

• Age 18 years or older;
• Diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke;
• Clinical symptoms consistent with perforating artery infarction (NIHSS score ≤5, with consciousness item 1a ≤1);
• Time from onset to randomization within 48 hours;
• Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) showing a single infarct in the perforating artery territory with a maximum diameter ≤30 mm, meeting at least one of the following:

(1) Diameter ≤15 mm and involving two or more axial slices; (2) Maximum diameter ≥15 mm; (3) Connected to the ventral surface of the pons but not crossing the midline; 6) Stenosis of parent artery <70%; 7) Signed informed consent obtained from the patient or their legally authorized representative.

Exclusion criteria

• Received intravenous thrombolysis or endovascular treatment prior to randomization;
• Secondary stroke caused by brain tumor, traumatic brain injury, hematologic disorders, or other conditions;
• History of intracranial hemorrhage;
• Presence of RIC contraindications, such as severe upper limb soft tissue injury, fracture, subclavian artery stenosis, or peripheral vascular disease;
• Uncontrolled severe hypertension (systolic blood pressure [BP] ≥180 mmHg or diastolic BP ≥110 mmHg);
• Severe hepatic or renal dysfunction (Alanine Aminotransferase or Aspartate Aminotransferase > 3 × upper limit of normal; creatine kinase >3 × upper limit of normal; estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate < 30 mL / min / 1.73 m²);
• Patients with thrombocytopenic purpura, coagulation disorders, or active visceral bleeding;
• Patients in the acute phase of fundus hemorrhage;
• History of severe aphasia or psychiatric disorders affecting clinical assessment;
• Life expectancy <90 days;
• Pregnancy;
• Inability to comply with follow-up;
• Participation in other clinical trials.