ESO annual stroke evidence update 2025

Background Stroke medicine is evolving rapidly, with emerging evidence continuously informing clinical practice. The European Stroke Organisation (ESO) Annual Stroke Evidence Update is a new ESO Guideline Board initiative that bridges the interval between formal guideline revisions by providing a curated synthesis of recent advances that may inform stroke care. Methods This edition synthesises new evidence published or presented during 2025 across various key domains, including acute treatment, prevention, rehabilitation, imaging, systems of care and outcomes. We searched major stroke and internal medicine journals and reviewed abstract proceedings from the main international stroke conferences. Studies were shortlisted by domain leads and selected by consensus among ESO Guideline Board members based on methodological quality, clinical relevance and potential to impact stroke management. Results Three randomised trials found no benefit for endovascular thrombectomy over best medical therapy in stroke due to MeVO. One trial showed that intravenous tenecteplase before thrombectomy was associated with improved functional independence at 90 days compared with thrombectomy alone in patients with stroke due to LVO. Individual patient data meta-analysis of 4 trials confirmed that intensive blood pressure lowering in the acute phase of ICH was safe and improved functional recovery, with greatest benefit when started within 3 h. A trial showed that triple-pill combination therapy achieved blood pressure control and reduced recurrent stroke after ICH. For ischaemic stroke associated with atrial fibrillation an individual participant data meta-analysis of 4 trials confirmed that early direct oral anticoagulant initiation within 4 days reduced recurrent ischaemic stroke without increasing symptomatic ICH. In non-cardioembolic stroke and high risk TIA, asundexian, a novel factor XIa inhibitor, reduced ischaemic stroke risk without increasing major bleeding in a large phase 3 trial. Mobile stroke units were shown to be cost-effective in high-volume systems. Promising therapeutic strategies for post-stroke cognitive impairment include brain stimulation, computerised cognitive training and cardiorespiratory training. Conclusions In 2025, trial evidence supported no routine role for EVT in MeVO, reinforced tenecteplase as bridging thrombolysis in eligible LVO patients undergoing EVT and strengthened the signal for early intensive blood pressure lowering in acute ICH. Priority research questions include identifying subgroups that may benefit from EVT in MeVO, defining the role of adjunct intra-arterial thrombolysis after successful EVT and clarifying which imaging-based selection pathways are most feasible and effective across different stroke systems.