Table 3 Functional outcome at 3 months against change in NIHSS at 2 h in HMCAS-D and HMCAS-P subgroups

Change in NIHSS score at 2 h after baseline	Good functional outcome (mRS 0–2 at 3 months) (n (%)) (p = 0.01)
Change in NIHSS score at 2 h after baseline	HMCAS-D	HMCAS-P
<0 (i.e. worsening)	20 (27.4%)	12 (10.1%)
= 0 (no change)	34 (19.9%)	29 (12.9%)
= 1 (improvement)	23 (37.1%)	6 (7.1%)
= 2	28 (40.6%)	15 (23.1%)
= 3	27 (42.2%)	17 (40.5%)
= 4	20 (43.5%)	5 (15.6%)
= 5	11 (39.3%)	10 (50.0%)
>5	115 (71.4%)	29 (49.2%)

HMCAS-D, hyperdense middle cerebral artery sign, disappearance; HMCAS-P, hyperdense middle cerebral artery sign, persistence; mRS, median Rankin Scale score; NIHSS, National Institute of Health Stroke Scale.