A short history of stroke

The history of stroke dates back to antiquity, where it was first described as "apoplexia" in Hippocratic writings. For centuries, understanding of the pathology was limited, based on Galen's theories and humoral pathology. Significant advances were made by Islamic scholars who expanded the knowledge and addressed existing contradictions. Only with Harvey's 17th-century description of blood circulation did a deeper understanding emerge, followed by the work of Wepfer and Virchow, who uncovered the role of vascular occlusions and embolisms. The discovery of carotid stenosis and the description of specific stroke syndromes by researchers like Chiari and Fisher further advanced modern diagnostics. The development of thrombolysis in the 1930s and advances in imaging paved the way for initial causal therapies. The breakthrough of mechanical thrombectomy, highlighted by the 2015 MR-CLEAN study, marked a turning point in stroke treatment and influenced new guidelines. Subsequent studies such as DAWN and DEFUSE‑3 expanded the therapeutic window. These milestones reflect the evolution from limited pathophysiological understanding to highly specialized, effective treatment approaches.