Harnessing self-protective pathways in the brain could protect against neurological disease, but pharmacological attempts at such an approach have failed. In this Review, Hess et al. consider the neurological potential of remote ischaemic conditioning (RIC), a procedure in which brief ischaemia induced by vascular occlusion in the limb activates self-protective pathways and protects distant organs against longer episodes of ischaemia. Clinical trials in cardiological settings have been successful, and trials in neurological conditions suggest that RIC is a feasible option for patients with ischaemic neurological conditions.
- David C. Hess
- Rolf A. Blauenfeldt
- Xunming Ji
