Effect of direct endovascular treatment versus standard bridging therapy in large artery anterior circulation stroke (DEVT): 18-month follow-up of a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND: Two trials in Chinese population showed that endovascular treatment (EVT) alone was noninferior to alteplase follow by EVT at 90 days. However, results of long-term clinical outcomes remain unknown. We reported the results of prespecified 18-month analysis of the DEVT trail. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We assessed clinical outcomes 18 months after patients were randomly assigned to receive EVT alone or bridging therapy for acute ischemic stroke (AIS). The primary outcome was the proportion of functional independence [modified Rankin scale (mRS), 0–2] at 18 months. Secondary outcomes included all-cause mortality and the quality of life at 18 months as measured by means of a health utility index according to the European Quality of Life 5-Dimension 5-level scale (EQ-5D-5L). Kaplan-Meier event curves were used to investigate the risk of mortality in participants with EVT alone or bridging therapy. RESULTS: Among 234 patients (EVT alone, n = 116; bridging therapy, n = 118) in the DEVT trial, only 231 (98.7%) patients were extended follow-up to 18 months. A total of 60 (51.7%) patients in the EVT alone achieved functional independence vs 56 (47.5%) patients in the bridging therapy (difference, 4.3%; 1-sided 97.5% CI, − 8.4% to ∞, P for noninferiority =0.014). No significant between-group difference was detected in EQ-5D-5L score (0.81 vs 0.73; difference, 0; 95% CI, 0 to 0.005). The cumulative mortality was 27.6% in the EVT alone and 28.8% in the bridging therapy. CONCLUSION: At 18 months follow-up, EVT alone was noninferior to bridging therapy regarding favorable functional outcome in patients with AIS. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Trial was registered on Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR-IOR-17013568) on 27/11/2017. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12883-023-03111-y.