2026 AHA/ASA Guidelines for Early Ischemic Stroke

Background: Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) continues to be a major source of disability and death in the United States and around the world. The incidence of stroke is rising commensurately with the aging population. Advances in evidence for improved stroke care have also been rapidly increasing in recent years, so that the 2018 and 2019 American Heart Association and American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA) guidelines require significant updating. Objective: To provide a comprehensive, timely, evidence-based set of recommendations for AIS management. Design: Literature review. Methods: The AHA/ASA supported by other specialty societies, formed an expert panel for a review. A dedicated search for relevant articles from several large databases was undertaken between September and December 2024, with a few high-impact studies published in 2025 also reviewed. From there, the expert panel wrote and revised the guidelines under oversight from a committee of accomplished reviewers. Guidelines we more...