Overview

The efficacy and safety of early adjunctive methylprednisolone therapy in acute ischemic stroke patients with large infarct cores (ASPECTS score < 6) and post-stroke lymphocytopenia remain unclear. These immunocompromised patients face higher mortality rates and poorer clinical outcomes, with limited effective treatment options currently available. This multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, non-inferiority trial aims to demonstrate that early methylprednisolone administration combined with reperfusion therapy is non-inferior to placebo in terms of survival and functional outcomes at 90 days.

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age ≥ 18 years.
• The time from last known well to randomization was within 24 hours.
• Anterior circulation ischemic stroke was preliminarily determined according to clinical symptoms or imaging examination.
• Occlusion of the intracranial internal carotid artery, the M1- or M2-segment of the middle cerebral artery by confirmed by CT angiography (CTA), MR angiography (MRA), or digital subtraction angiography (DSA).
• Baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) ≥ 6.
• Baseline Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) < 6 (based on non-contrast CT or MRI) or core infarct volume ≥ 50 ml (based on CTP with rCBF < 30%).
• Planned treatment with endovascular thrombectomy (EVT).
• Baseline peripheral blood lymphocyte < 0.8×10#/L
• Informed consent obtained from patients or their legal representatives.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Intracranial hemorrhage confirmed by cranial CT or MRI.
• mRS score > 2 before the time of last known well.
• Pregnant or lactating women.
• Allergic to contrast agents or glucocorticoids.
• Participating in other clinical trials.
• The artery is tortuous so that the thrombectomy device cannot reach the target vessel.
• Bleeding history (gastrointestinal and urinary tract bleeding) in recent 1 month.
• Chronic hemodialysis and severe renal insufficiency (glomerular filtration rate < 30 ml/min or serum creatinine > 220 umol/L [2.5 mg/ dL]).
• Life expectancy due to any advanced disease < 6 months.
• Follow-up is not expected to be completed.
• Intracranial aneurysm and arteriovenous malformation.
• Brain tumors with imaging mass effect.
• Systemic infectious disease.