Quantitative Net Water Uptake as a Predictor of Functional Outcomes After Intravenous Thrombolysis in Acute Ischemic Stroke International Multicenter Observational Retrospective Study

While the effectiveness of intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) decreases over time, patients show considerable variability in how quickly their ischemic core progresses. Quantitative net water uptake (NWU) has emerged as a biomarker indicating blood-brain barrier disruption and may better reflect the "tissue clock" than time alone. Low NWU is associated with favorable outcomes, whereas high NWU predicts poor outcomes and futile recanalization. The study aims to determine whether NWU measured on initial non-contrast CT is a treatment effect modifier for the IVT therapy.