Foreword

Stroke is likely the neurological disease with the most relevant developments in all the research fields, from knowledge of the mechanisms leading to brain tissue death to codification of rehabilitation mainstays, through better definition of risk factors and consequent improvement of primary and secondary prevention, diagnosis with advanced imaging or by identification of genetic mechanisms in rare cases, treatments of the acute phase of ischemic events, with the well-established role of i.v. thrombolysis now backed up by combined endovascular treatments and with the potentialities of neuroprotection and neuroregeneration, or of iatrogenic hemorrhagic stroke, with the advent of antidotes for the new generation of direct oral anticoagulants.

As a consequence, a terribly huge literature on stroke has been produced: by typing the word “stroke” one may find approximately 140000 papers indexed in PubMed in the last 20 years. Hence, a book summarizing all the “new concepts in stroke diagnosis and therapy” is highly appreciated. The Authors report the present knowledge on all the above mentioned issue, with updated and well selected reference literature. The book can be a good “traveling companion” for neurologists working daily on stroke patient management and having little time to look for scientific literature, but also a guide for stroke basic and clinical researchers to pick up the most recent information and to get suggestions for further research.

My compliments to the Authors and “enjoy the reading” to all the readers.