Werner Hacke talks with
ScienceWatch.com and answers a few questions about
this month's New Hot Paper in the field of Neuroscience
& Behavior.
Article Title: Guidelines for management of
ischaemic stroke and transient ischaemic attack 2008 - The
European Stroke Organisation (ESO) Executive Committee and
the ESO Writing Committee
Authors: Hacke, W
Journal: CEREBROVASC DIS, Volume: 25, Issue: 5, Page:
457-507, Year: 2008
* Univ Heidelberg, Dept Neurol, Neuenheimer Feld 400,
DE-69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
* Univ Heidelberg, Dept Neurol, DE-69120 Heidelberg,
Germany.
Why do you think your paper is highly
cited?
This article is the full text of the update of the European Stroke
Initiative (EUSI) Recommendations for Stroke Management, as outlined in the
European Stroke Guidelines. It is a document that will influence the way
stroke is treated in Europe and beyond, since it has subsequently been
translated into a number of languages, including Spanish, Portuguese,
Italian, German, Greek, Turkish, Lithuanian, Polish, Russian, and Mandarin
Chinese. This clearly describes the paper's significance and why it is
cited frequently.
Would you summarize the significance of your paper
in layman's terms?
"Stroke is one of the leading causes
of morbidity and mortality
worldwide."
These guidelines cover both ischaemic stroke and transient ischaemic
attacks (TIAs), which are now considered to be a single entity. If
recommendations differ for the two conditions, this will be explicitly
mentioned; otherwise the recommendations are valid for both conditions.
Separate guidelines exist or are being prepared for intracerebral
hemorrhage and subarachnoid hemorrhage.
The classes of evidence and levels of recommendations used in these
guidelines are defined according to the criteria of the European Federation
of Neurological Societies. The article covers referral and emergency
management, stroke unit service, diagnostics, primary and secondary
prevention, general stroke treatment, and specific treatment, including
acute management, management of complications, and rehabilitation.
Do you foresee any social or political implications
for your research?
Stroke is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide.
Large differences in incidence, prevalence, and mortality have been noted
between Eastern and Western Europe. This has been attributed to differences
in risk factors, with higher levels of hypertension and other risk factors
resulting in more severe stroke in Eastern Europe.
Notable regional variations have also been found within Western Europe.
Stroke is the most important cause of morbidity and long-term disability in
Europe, and demographic changes will result in an increase in both
incidence and prevalence. It is also the second most common cause of
dementia, the most frequent cause of epilepsy in the elderly, and a
frequent cause of depression.
Werner Hacke, M.D.
Professor and Chairman of the Department of Neurology
University of Heidelberg
Heidelberg, Germany Web