title: Targeting the ischemic penumbra.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the last 3 decades, and from a therapeutic point of view, the classical concept of ischemic penumbra based on hemodynamic and electrophysiological parameters has loosened up the rigidity of therapeutic windows in acute stroke management. Thirty years later, the ischemic penumbra is an evolved concept that presents more applications. Thus, the ischemic penumbra is a diagnostic target, allowing the extension of therapeutic windows; it is also a biochemical target, in which an intermittent bioenergetic compromise takes place, and it is a target for brain plasticity, neuroprotection, and neurorepair.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this work, we review how the concept of ischemic penumbra has been evolving from its purely electrophysiological/ hemodynamic based definition to the wider metabolic-cellular-therapeutic concept that is managed today by neuroscientists.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Neurosciences Research Laboratory, Department of Neurology, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Santiago, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ramos-Cabrer
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Campos
authors.forename: Tomás
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sobrino
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Castillo
mesh_terms: D002545:Brain Ischemia; D055724:Electrophysiological Phenomena; D006439:Hemodynamics; D020521:Stroke / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D013997:Time Factors