Many common complications occurring in the initial phase of an ischemic stroke can adversely affect outcome. Hyperthermia frequently occurs in stroke patients and animal models of ischemic brain injury; and it negatively correlates with the outcome of stroke. Recently, we have studied the effects of hyperthermia in focal ischemia. Our findings show that hyperthermia increases neuronal death, compromises microcirculation, exacerbates ischemic brain edema, enhances the breach of blood-brain barrier and diminishes the efficacy of thrombolysis.
Infarct in the brain