Intravenous thrombolysis in acute ischemic stroke – our experience

Abstract

Abstract Stroke is a major health problem worldwide and nationally: the second leading cause of death and dementia, the most common cause of epilepsy in the elderly, and a common cause of depression. Stroke is associated with an increased rate of morbidity, but it is also the leading cause of long-term morbidity and disability in industrialized countries. Thrombolysis by administering intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (IV-rtPA) is the only treatment method “in the therapeutic window” recognized in international protocols. The benefit-risk ratio should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, with the neurologist’s decision being individual and often difficult. The aim of our study was to analyze the outcome of this procedure in our hospital since 2015. We performed a retrospective clinical study of 77 patients with acute ischemic stroke subjected to IV-rtPA. Most patients with ischemic stroke undergoing intravenous thrombolysis did not receive chronic antithrombotictherapy. In most cases (76%) there was a decrease in the NIHSS score at 24 hours after thrombolysis and especially after 7 days (between 3 and 19 points), reflecting a reduction in poststroke disability in thrombolyzed patients. In the series of patients undergoing i.v. thrombolysis 5 deaths (10%) were recorded, the lowestrate of data/death ratereported in the literature (14-18%).