Neovascularization Induced by Mechanical Barrier disrUption and Systemic Erythropoietin in Patients With Cerebral Perfusion Deficits

Inclusion criteria

• age 20~85
• Acute period (ischemic stroke confirmation on DWI or TIA within 14 days after symptom onset)
• Below 20 point of initial NIHSS score within 14 days after stroke onset and enrolment.
• Confirmation of atherosclerotic or steno-occlusive stroke mechanism (proximal cerebral arteries) on CTA or MRA .
• At least hemodynamically, perfusion status of a candidate is stage II or III (decrease of regional Cerebral blood flow on CBF map), moyamoya disease
• If female then not of childbearing potential
• Informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• Primary intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH), or parenchymal haemorrhagic transformation of infarction (type PHI or PHII as defined in ECASS), subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH), arterio-venous malformation (AVM), cerebral aneurysm, or cerebral neoplasm
• Treated with a thrombolytic <24 hours (if >24 hours and excluded ICH then eligible)
• Score >=1 on the NIHSS item 1a
• Pre-stroke mRS score <2
• Uncontrolled hypertension(irregularity systollic BP > 150mmHg
• Previous treatment with erythropoietin
• At screening: Hemoglobin >14 g/dl, prolonged PT or PTT, serum Cr >2.0 ,mg/dl, BUN >40, thrombocytopenia or neutropenia as defined by the lower limit of normal for the platelet count or white blood cell count, respectively (absolute neutrophil count of > 1800/mm3 required for participation), or > 2 times of normal on liver function tests (SGOT, SGPT, total bilirubin)