Treatments against Reperfusion Failure: DARTS

A stroke is a life-changing event for those affected and has long-term consequences for patients and their families. In ischemic stroke, a clot blocks a blood vessel in the brain, causing tissue to die and brain functions to suddenly fail. In the DARTS trial (Dornase Alpha as Reperfusion Treatment in ischemic Stroke), we want to test a drug that is designed to improve blood flow in the brain vessels, thereby also improving recovery in stroke patients. This drug is called Dornase Alpha. It has been in use for years as a treatment for lung diseases, but is not approved for stroke. Patients with acute stroke will be given either the drug or a placebo intravenously. Other treatment will remain unchanged. We want to find out whether patients who have received the drug benefit from it.