Abstract T MP11: Acute Endovascular Reperfusion Therapy Has Inconsistent Results Across Randomized Clinical Trials -A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Introduction: Endovascular (intra-arterial, IA) therapy for acute ischemic stroke has become part of acute therapy , but limited randomized clinical trials have had inconsistent results. We sought to evaluate efficacy and safety of endovascular therapy in - randomized clinical trials . Methods: We performed a systematic review of literature for randomized clinical trials of endovascular therapy with thrombolytic or mechanical reperfusion compared with comparator groups without IA therapy. Use of systemic thrombolysis was not excluded. Primary outcome was modified Rankin scale of disability of 0-2 at 90 days and secondary outcomes of mortality at 90 days and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage was noted. Two groups of independent reviewers searched and identified studies and abstracted data. Random-effects meta-analysis was performed. Subgroups were analyzed by study design characteristics. Results: Systematic search identified 10 studies with 1572 subjects, of which 9 studies reported the primary outcome. IA therapy was associated with good outcome at 90 days (Odds ratio (OR) =1.28; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.62; p=0.04), but there was significant heterogeneity with p of 0.03. Among 3 trials (n=1136) comparing mechanical thrombectomy with control, mechanical thrombectomy was not superior to control with good outcome (OR=0.98; 95 % CI, 0.85 to 1.14; p=0.83). Patients with IA therapy significantly have good outcome in studies without systematic thrombolysis in the comparator (OR=1.55; 95 % CI, 1.05 to 2.29; p=0.03) and required vessel occlusion for randomization (OR=1.54; 95 % CI, 1.10 to 2.14; p=0.01). Mortality was unchanged with IA therapy (OR=0.92; 95 % CI, 0.75 to 1.13; p=0.45) and there was no difference in symptomatic hemorrhage (OR=1.13; 95 % CI, 0.74 to 1.74; p=0.56). Conclusion: IA therapy has a small but significant increase in good outcomes for patients with acute ischemic stroke without increasing mortality and symptomatic hemorrhages.