Evaluation of the recombinant tissue plasminogen activator pretreatment in acute stroke patients with large vessel occlusions treated with the direct bridging approach. Is it worth the effort?

2014 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 322-327 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Fjetland ◽  
K. D. Kurz ◽  
S. Roy ◽  
M. W. Kurz
Keyword(s):  
Acute Stroke ◽  
Plasminogen Activator ◽  
Tissue Plasminogen Activator ◽  
Recombinant Tissue Plasminogen Activator ◽  
Large Vessel ◽  
Stroke Patients ◽  
Tissue Plasminogen

Abstract T P66: Safety and Effectiveness of Intravenous Recombinant Tissue Plasminogen Activator in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients on Aspirin and Clopidogrel

Stroke ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 46 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mushtaq H Qureshi ◽  
Shayaan M Khan ◽  
Nauman Jahangir ◽  
Ahmed A Malik ◽  
Melissa Freese ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Combination Therapy ◽  
Acute Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Plasminogen Activator ◽  
Tissue Plasminogen Activator ◽  
Recombinant Tissue Plasminogen Activator ◽  
Favorable Outcome ◽  
Stroke Patients ◽  
Neurological Improvement ◽  
Tissue Plasminogen

Background: The number of acute ischemic stroke patients who are on both aspirin and clopidogrel treatment at time of acute ischemic event is increasing. There is limited data regarding the safety and efficacy of intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) treatment in such patients. Methods: We reviewed the medical records and imaging data of consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke who received IV rt-PA within 4.5 hours of symptom onset. We stratified the patients based on active regular use of antiplatelet medications: monotherapy (aspirin or clopidogrel), combination therapy (aspirin and clopidogrel), and no therapy and compared the rates of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), neurological improvement (≥4 points in National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale [NIHSS], and favorable outcome (modified Rankin scale [mRS] 0-1) at discharge between the three groups. Results: A total of 88 acute ischemic stroke patients (mean age±SD; 69.88 ±15) were treated with IV rt-PA within the study duration. Of the 88 patients 45 (50.6%), 37 (41.6%), and 52 (58.4) were on monotherapy, combination therapy, or no therapy at time of presentation. The proportion of patients who developed symptomatic ICHs were similar (p=0.8) in monotherapy, combination therapy, and no therapy groups (3.3%, 0.0%, and 4.1%, respectively). The rates of neurological improvement were greater in patients on monotherapy (20%) (p=0.03) followed by combination therapy (11.1%), and no therapy groups (2.0%). There was no significant reduction in the rate of favorable outcome at discharge among patients on combination treatment compared with no treatment (odds ratio 0.8 , 95% confidence interval 0.4-1.8 ) after adjusting for age and initial NIHSS score strata (<10, 10-19, and ≥20). Conclusions: Compared with patients on no antiplatelet treatment, acute ischemic stroke patients who are actively using aspirin and clopidogrel appear to have similar risks and benefits with IV rt-PA treatment.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document