Why does neuronal damage sometimes expand after thrombolysis-induced reperfusion following an ischemic stroke?

💡 Explanation

Reperfusion injury occurs because the restored blood flow introduces oxygen and inflammatory cells that trigger the production of reactive oxygen species and increase calcium influx into cells, leading to cell death. Therefore, increased calcium ion influx worsens neuronal damage rather than reducing it, because the mechanism is excitotoxicity and oxidative stress rather than ATP depletion.

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