Fig 1: Cerebral platelet activation is paralleled by neutrophil recruitment during acute ischemic stroke. a Quantification of plasmatic CXCL4 (PF-4)/CXCL7 (NAP-2) concentrations (n = 62/n = 67) as well as platelet (n = 67) and neutrophil (n = 65) counts. Each dot represents related systemic versus cerebral-ischemic blood samples during acute human stroke. Scatter dot plot with mean and 95% confidence interval (CI). Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank test. *P < .05; **P < .005. b Left panel: Linear correlation between ischemic CXCL4 concentrations (y-axis) and ischemic platelet counts (x-axis). Spearman rank order correlation (n = 60), r = 0.2583, P = .0463. Middle panel: Linear correlation between ischemic neutrophil counts (y-axis) and ischemic platelet counts (x-axis). Spearman rank order correlation (n = 64), r = 0.2652, P = .0342. Right panel: Linear correlation between ischemic MPO (y-axis) and CXCL7 (x-axis) concentrations. Spearman rank order correlation (n = 66), r = 0.2446, P = .0478. Each dot represents a single case with correlation line. Short-dotted lines: 95% CI of the correlation line. c Left panel: Color-coded digital subtraction angiography (DSA) visualizing collateral transit time (relative time to peak opacification, rTTP) and local ischemic blood sampling (target region: ischemic, white circle) during embolic occlusion (red) of the M1 segment of the middle cerebral artery, micro- (distal to embolic lesion), and intermediate catheter (proximal to embolic lesion) in place (black). Middle panel: Linear correlation between collateral transit time (rTTP; y-axis, including representative images of good and poor collateral status) and ischemic neutrophil counts (x-axis). Spearman rank order correlation (n = 57), r = 0.4733, P = .0002. Right panel: Linear correlation between radiological infarct extension under occlusion (Alberta Stroke Program Early CT score, ASPECTS; y-axis, including representative images of progressive and absent infarction) and ischemic platelet counts (x-axis). Spearman rank order correlation (n = 62), r = 0.3075, P = .0151. Each dot represents a single case with correlation line Short-dotted lines: 95% CI of the correlation line.