Summary

Early intervention is critical in patients with acute stroke, and there is a narrow time frame in which to pursue acute therapies [Saver JL. Stroke 2006; Saver JL et al. JAMA 2013]. Approximately 35% to 70% of patients with stroke arrive by ambulance. This article presents results from the Field Administration of Stroke Therapy—Magnesium (FAST-MAG) trial, a prehospital, multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled efficacy study whose aim was to test whether intravenous magnesium sulfate given within 2 hours of symptom onset improves the outcomes of patients with acute stroke.