On Brain Awareness Week’s third day we are focusing on a new international study, the EAST-STROKE trial, which is investigating a potential new treatment to prevent new strokes in patients with acute ischemic stroke and atrial fibrillation (AF). Funded by the EU Horizon programme, the trial will test whether Rhythm Control, a method to restore normal heart rhythm, can reduce the risk of further strokes and heart problems in stroke patients with AF.
AF is a common heart condition that causes an irregular heartbeat, increasing the risk of blood clots that can lead to an ischemic stroke. While Rhythm Control is already used to treat AF, it has not yet been widely applied to acute stroke patients. The EAST-STROKE trial aims to change that by integrating this treatment early after a stroke, alongside standard care.
“If the study confirms this new treatment strategy, it could change the way we treat stroke patients with atrial fibrillation worldwide and help prevent many new strokes,” said Professor Götz Thomalla, project coordinator and Director of Neurology at the University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE).
Launched in early 2025, the six-year trial will enroll 1,746 patients across Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Australia, with further expansion planned to the UK, Canada and Brazil. The study’s international scope aims to ensure that its findings can be widely implemented.
Arlene Wilkie, Director General of the Stroke Alliance for Europe (SAFE), emphasized the potential impact: “This trial has the potential to improve stroke care across the globe, giving patients better outcomes and reducing the burden of stroke on individuals, families and healthcare systems.”
If successful, the EAST-STROKE trial could lead to a major shift in stroke treatment, helping thousands of patients worldwide avoid recurrent strokes and heart complications.
For more information, click to view video.
Or click visit the EAST-STROKE website.
The project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement number 101156541
