Early surrogates of functional outcome after thrombectomy for MCA-M2 occlusions

H Helge C. Kniep L Lukas Meyer G Gabriel Broocks M Matthias Bechstein C Christian Heitkamp L Laurens Winkelmeier T Tobias Faizy L Ludger Feyen C Caspar Brekenfeld U Uta Hanning S Susanne Gellißen A Arno Reich (Department of Neurology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany) O Omid Nikoubashman C Christian Nolte E Eberhard Siebert (Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin) A Alexander Nave C Charlotte Pietrock G Gabor Petzold F Franziska Dorn (Department of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany) J Jan Hendrik Schäfer F Fee Keil (Institution of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany) A Anna Alegiani J Joachim Röther B Bernd Eckert M Maximilian Schell G Götz Thomalla F Fabian Flottmann J Jens Fiehler (Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany) M Mario Abruscato S Sven Thonke T Timo Uphaus K Klaus Gröschel P Peter Schellinger J Jan Borggrefe L Lars Kellert H Hanna Zimmermann S Steffen Tiedt S Silke Wunderlich (Department of Neurology, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Health, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Munich, Germany) T Tobias Boeckh-Behrens A Annerose Mengel U Ulrike Ernemann

Abstract

Abstract The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) at 24h is a strong predictor of long-term independence after mechanical thrombectomy for anterior circulation strokes. Its predictive value in patients with M2 segment of the middle cerebral artery (MCA-M2) occlusions, however, remains unclear. This study compares NIHSS scores at admission and 24h and early neurological improvement (ENI) definitions to predict functional outcomes at 90d for M2 occlusions. Patients with isolated MCA-M2 occlusions from the German Stroke Registry (06/2015–12/2021) were analyzed. NIHSS at admission, 24h and ENI definitions were compared for predicting excellent and good outcome, defined as modified Rankin Scale (mRS) 0-1 and 0-2. Factors impairing predictive power were identified based on multivariable logistic regression. Among 1,268 patients, 24h NIHSS showed the highest predictive accuracy, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.85 [95% Confidence Interval: 0.83-0.87] for both good and excellent outcomes. Optimal NIHSS thresholds were ≤8 for good and ≤7 for excellent outcomes. Advanced age, higher pre-stroke mRS, diabetes, and higher procedure passes significantly reduced prognostic accuracy. NIHSS at 24h, with thresholds of ≤8 and ≤7, is the best surrogate for predicting good and excellent functional outcomes in MCA-M2 occlusion patients. Prognostic value diminishes with advanced age, pre-stroke disability, and comorbidities such as diabetes.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 16, Issue 1
Published February 17, 2026
ISSN 2045-2322
Publisher Nature Portfolio

Journal Info

Scientific Reports

Nature Portfolio

ISSN: 2045-2322 Open Access Life Sciences

Authors (41)

H

Helge C. Kniep

L

Lukas Meyer

G

Gabriel Broocks

M

Matthias Bechstein

C

Christian Heitkamp

L

Laurens Winkelmeier

T

Tobias Faizy

L

Ludger Feyen

C

Caspar Brekenfeld

U

Uta Hanning

S

Susanne Gellißen

A

Arno Reich

Department of Neurology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany

O

Omid Nikoubashman

C

Christian Nolte

E

Eberhard Siebert

Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin

A

Alexander Nave

C

Charlotte Pietrock

G

Gabor Petzold

F

Franziska Dorn

Department of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany

J

Jan Hendrik Schäfer

F

Fee Keil

Institution of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

A

Anna Alegiani

J

Joachim Röther

B

Bernd Eckert

M

Maximilian Schell

G

Götz Thomalla

F

Fabian Flottmann

J

Jens Fiehler

Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany

M

Mario Abruscato

S

Sven Thonke

T

Timo Uphaus

K

Klaus Gröschel

P

Peter Schellinger

J

Jan Borggrefe

L

Lars Kellert

H

Hanna Zimmermann

S

Steffen Tiedt

S

Silke Wunderlich

Department of Neurology, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Health, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Munich, Germany

T

Tobias Boeckh-Behrens

A

Annerose Mengel

U

Ulrike Ernemann