Mobile Stroke Unit deployment for acute stroke treatment

Prehospital Initiation of Reperfusion Therapy for Acute Ischemic Stroke: Randomized Medico-economic Evaluation of a Mobile Stroke Unit.

Not applicable Interventional Centre Hospitalier St Anne · NCT05649670

This study is testing if using Mobile Stroke Units to start treatment for stroke patients before they reach the hospital can help them recover better than the usual care they receive.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment450 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorCentre Hospitalier St Anne Academic / other
Locations11 sites (Garches and 10 other locations)
Trial IDNCT05649670 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

The ASPHALT trial is an open-label randomized controlled trial comparing the use of Mobile Stroke Units (MSUs) to standard care for patients with acute ischemic stroke in France. The study aims to determine if pre-hospital initiation of intravenous thrombolysis via MSUs can improve patient outcomes compared to traditional hospital-based treatment. A total of 450 patients will be recruited over three years, with a focus on those who call emergency services within six hours of symptom onset. The trial will assess both clinical outcomes and cost-effectiveness of the MSU approach.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults who have experienced symptoms of acute ischemic stroke and can call emergency services within six hours of onset.

Not a fit: Patients with unknown onset times, severe disabilities, or certain medical conditions such as recent seizures or pregnancy may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lead to improved functional outcomes for stroke patients by reducing treatment delays.

How similar studies have performed: Previous non-randomized studies have shown that Mobile Stroke Units can improve outcomes, but this trial aims to provide more definitive evidence.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Emergency call to one of the two following emergency medical service (EMS) dispatch centers : SAMU (Service d'Aide Médicale Urgente) or BSPP (Brigade des Sapeurs Pompiers de Paris), between 08:00 and 18:00, 5 days a week (Monday to Friday).
* Suspected acute stroke according to a dispatcher stroke identification algorithm, adapted from the ROSIER scale
* Symptom onset-to-randomization time ≤ 6h
* Patient located within the predefined catchment area of the MSU
* MSU available at the time of the EMS call
* Informed consent (as approved by the ethics committee, informed consent will be obtained after randomization: at the arrival of the MSU (intervention group), or at hospital arrival (control group))

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patient confined to be more than 50% of waking hours
* Unknown or uncertain onset time (e.g. wake-up stroke)
* Medical history of epilepsy
* Recent epileptic seizure (\<12 hrs)
* Suspicion of pregnancy
* Parturient or breastfeeding woman
* Patient already participating in another interventional study, which could influence the mRS at 3 months.
* Patient under guardianship or curatorship
* Patient not affiliated to French Social Security

Where this trial is running

Garches and 10 other locations

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Stroke, AcuteMobile Stroke UnitMSUIntravenous thrombolysisEmergency Medical ServiceMechanical thrombectomyCost-utilityCost-effectiveness
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.