Introduction and hypothesis:
In patients with acute ischemic stroke with large vessel occlusion (AIS-LVO), the role of intra-arterial adjunctive medications (IAM) like urokinase, tPA or glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors, during mechanical thrombectomy (MT) has not been clearly established. We hypothesize that AIS-LVO patients treated with both MT + IAM (rescue or concurrent) achieve better safety and efficacy outcomes than patients treated with MT alone and aim to determine the efficacy and safety of concomitant or rescue IAM for AIS-LVO patients undergoing MT.
Methods:
We searched Medline, Embase and Cochrane Stroke Group Trials Register databases from inception until 13th March 2020. We analysed all studies with patients diagnosed with AIS-LVO in the anterior or posterior circulation, that provided data for the two treatment arms: 1)MT+IAM and 2)MT-only, and also reported on at least one of the following outcomes: reperfusion, 90-days modified Rankin Scale (mRS), symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) and 90-days mortality. Data were collated in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines.
Results:
Sixteen non-randomized observational studies with a total of 4581 patients were analysed. MT-only was performed in 3233 (70.6%) patients, while 1348 (29.4%) patients were treated with both MT+IAM. As compared to patients treated with MT alone, patients treated with combination therapy (MT +IAM) had a higher likelihood of achieving good functional outcome (risk ratio=1.13, 95% CI 1.03-1.24) and a lower risk of 90-day mortality (risk ratio=0.82, 95% CI 0.72-0.94). There was no significant difference in successful reperfusion (risk ratio=1.02, 95% CI 0.99-1.06) and sICH between the two groups (risk ratio = 1.13, 95% CI 0.87-1.46) (Figure 1).
Conclusions:
In AIS-LVO, use of IAM together with MT may achieve better functional outcomes and lower mortality rates. Randomized controlled trials are warranted to confirm the safety and efficacy of IAM as adjunctive treatment of MT.
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