Werner Mess

Professor

Prof. Werner Mess received his medical degree in 1989 at the University of Düsseldorf, whereafter he was a resident in neurology in Mannheim/Heidelberg and Düsseldorf until 1994. As a certified neurologist he went to Nieuwegein (NL), where he worked as a clinical neurophysiologist for two years. In 1997, he became staff member and subsequently (2006) chairman of the Department of Clinical Neurophysiology at Maastricht University. In 2003, he received his PhD in Medicine at Maastricht University on the physical properties of microembolus detection and in 2007 became professor of clinical neurophysiology.

He has been involved in ultrasound since his first scientific activities resulting in a thesis based on CW Doppler measurements of the carotid and vertebral arteries in patients with an asymptomatic vascular disease. Since then, he has performed and participated in multiple studies on plaque morphology as well as microembolus detection. The latter led to his PhD degree and focussed on the physical aspects of the method. Currently, he focusses on long-term embolus detection, as well as the combined evaluation of functional, and anatomical properties of the carotid artery by means of ultrasound. He is an internationally recognised expert in this field and a member of the ESNCH and board member of the Neurosonology Research Group.

Department of Clinical Neurophysiology
P. Debyelaan 25, 6229 HX Maastricht 
PO Box 5800, 6202 AZ Maastricht
T
: +31(0)43 387 52 73

  • 2026
    • Knapen, S. E., Hinsenveld, W. H., Janssen, M. L. F., Mess, W. H., Drenthen, J., & Tannemaat, M. R. (2026). Reply to: Utility in prognostication of continuous EEG monitoring in postanoxic coma: importance on timing in relation to the cardiac arrest. Critical Care, 30(1), Article 53. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13054-026-05872-7
    • Hodzelmans, J. J. A., Janssen, M. L. F., Reulen, J. P. H., Koster, A., Schaper, N. C., Mess, W. H., & Sutedja, N. A. (2026). Risk Factors of Sural Nerve Axonal Degeneration Using Clinically Relevant Thresholds in Context of Glucose Metabolism: The Maastricht Study. Muscle & nerve, 73(2), 283-291. https://doi.org/10.1002/mus.70088
    • Knapen, S. E., Hinsenveld, W. H., Janssen, M. L. F., Mess, W. H., Drenthen, J., & Tannemaat, M. R. (2026). Utility of continuous EEG monitoring in postanoxic coma: a retrospective multicenter study. Critical Care, 30(1), Article 9. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13054-025-05773-1
    • Bierens, J., Jerkovic, N., Postma, A. A., Bos, D., de Jong, P. A., Nederkoorn, P. J., Mess, W. H., Saba, L., Smits, L. J. M., van Oostenbrugge, R. J., & Kooi, M. E. (2026). Carotid perivascular adipose tissue attenuation predicts stroke and TIA in symptomatic carotid artery disease patients. Journal of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcct.2025.12.009
  • 2025
    • Okoro, C., van der Kallen, C. J. H., Mokhtar, S. B. A., Zhou, T. L., Berendschot, T. T. J. M., Koster, A., Reesink, K., Reulen, J., Mess, W. H., Webers, C. A. B., Kroon, A., & Stehouwer, C. D. A. (2025). Arterial stiffness is associated with small and large fiber neuropathy: The Maastricht Study. Journal of Hypertension, 43(12), 1945-1952. https://doi.org/10.1097/HJH.0000000000004126
    • Kishna, Y. S., Baars, S., van der Horst, I. C. C., Mess, W. H., Hendrix, R., Delnoij, T. S. R., & Aries, M. (2025). Cerebral monitoring responses to bedside physiological challenges in comatose post-cardiac arrest patients. Journal of Clinical Monitoring and Computing, (1). Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10877-025-01393-w
    • Kishna, Y. S., Mess, W. H., Hendrix, R. H. J., Otten, J., & Aries, M. (2025). Challenges in the Interpretation of Hyperechoic Reflexes in Multiplanar Ultrasound Optic Nerve Sheath Diameter Analysis. Neurocritical Care. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12028-025-02413-y
    • Schenck, H., De Ridder, I., Gommer, E., Mess, W., Hoogland, G., Teernstra, O., Dings, J., Kuijk, S. V., Temel, Y., & Haeren, R. (2025). In vivo glycocalyx assessment in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage patients: protocol for a prospective observational feasibility study. Pilot and Feasibility Studies, 11(1), Article 154. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40814-025-01735-0
    • Bierens, J., Postma - Jacobi, L., Frehe, K., Wagemans, B., Bos, D., de Jong, P. A., Nederkoorn, P. J., Mess, W., Kopczak, A., Schindler, A., Saam, T., Saba, L., Smits, L., van Oostenbrugge, R. J., & Kooi, E. (2025). Comparison of MRI- and CTA-Based Plaque-RADS to Predict Stroke and TIA in Symptomatic Carotid Disease. JACC-Cardiovascular Imaging. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcmg.2025.10.009
    • Malik, A. E. F., Giudici, A., Lubrecht, J. M., Prinzen, F. W., Delhaas, T., Mess, W. H., & Reesink, K. D. (2025). Spectral analysis of bruits with an electronic stethoscope enhances screening of carotid stenosis and plaques beyond conventional auscultation. Annals of translational medicine, 13(5), Article 55. https://doi.org/10.21037/atm-24-191