Abstract TP73: Transition of ECASS III Results to Clinical Practice: 90 Day Outcomes in a US Cohort
Introduction: ECASS III showed benefit of IV tPA for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) 3-4.5 hr from onset in a select group of patients from Europe, with this extended treatment subsequently recommended by the AHA/ASA. We prospectively enrolled AIS patients treated with IV tPA as this recommendation was being applied in clinical practice, to determine safety and efficacy in a representative cohort from the USA. Methods: Consecutive AIS patients treated with IV tPA at 18 primary stroke centers throughout Maryland were approached and informed consent obtained during hospitalization. Sites ranged from small community hospitals to large academic medical centers. In-hospital and demographic data were obtained from each site’s GWTG database or directly from the medical record. Study personnel blinded to the treatment time window obtained 90 day modified Rankin Scale (mRS) by structured phone interview. Patients were grouped by time to treatment (≤ 3hr vs. 3-4.5hr) and compared for presence of additional exclusion criteria from ECASS III that are not standard practice in the USA for ≤ 3hr (age >80, history of stroke and diabetes, oral anticoagulant treatment, and NIHSS>25). Good functional outcome (mRS 0-1 and 0-2), mortality, and symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH) were analyzed. Results: Patients treated 3-4.5hr were somewhat younger (mean age 62.6 vs. 66.6, p=0.06), and had smaller infarcts (median NIHSS 5 vs. 8, p=0.04). There was only partial adherence to the additional ECASS exclusions (Table 1). There were no significant differences by time to treatment in sICH, mortality, or 90 day functional outcome (Table 2). Conclusion: For US patients treated with IV tPA 3-4.5 hr from onset in every day practice, there is no evidence for increased risk or worse outcomes compared to standard treatment up to 3 hr.