Intravenous Thrombolysis In Patients Research Articles

The HALP (hemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte, and platelet) score is associated with hemorrhagic transformation after intravenous thrombolysis in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Hemorrhagic transformation (HT) after intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) with rt-PA can precipitate rapid neurological deterioration, poor prognosis, and even death. The HALP score (hemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte, and platelet) is a novel indicator developed to reflect both systemic inflammation and the nutritional status of patients. The goal of this study was to reveal the relationship between the HALP score and the risk of HT after IVT in people with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). A total of 753 patients with AIS were included in this study. Patients were divided into quartiles according to baseline HALP score. The HALP score was calculated as follows: hemoglobin (g/L) × albumin (g/L) × lymphocytes (/L)/platelets (/L). Binary logistic regression was used to reveal the connection between HALP score and HT. The baseline HALP score were significantly lower in the HT than non-HT patients (p < 0.001). The HALP score were divided into four quartiles: Q1 (<27.4), Q2 (27.4-37.6), Q3 (37.7-49.6), Q4 (>49.6), respectively. Moreover, the severity of HT increased with decreasing HALP level (p < 0.001). In multivariable logistic regression, taking the Q4 as the reference, the association between Q1 and HT remained, after adjusting for confounding variables [odds ratio (OR) = 3.197, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.634-6.635, p = 0.003]. The HALP value can predict the HT risk after IVT in patients with AIS. A lower HALP level was associated with an increased severity of HT post-IVT.

Intravenous thrombolysis in patients on direct oral anticoagulants: A survey of NIH StrokeNet sites

BackgroundPatients with suspected ischemic stroke and use of Direct Oral Anticoagulants (DOACs) within 48 h are excluded from thrombolysis. We aimed to determine practice patterns across institutions in the NIH StrokeNet, a network of hospitals to conduct NIH-funded stroke clinical trials, in the United States. MethodsA survey was sent electronically to all NIH StrokeNet regional coordinating centers. The survey questions were geared towards understanding practice patterns with intravenous thrombolysis use in patients on DOACs. We reported proportions and percentages answers to the questions. We compared the likelihood of thrombolysis use in patients with recent DOAC ingestion (never vs. all other responses) across characteristics of survey responder using Chi Square. ResultsA total of 83 site principal investigators completed the survey; 78.3 % would never give thrombolysis to an otherwise eligible patients within 12-24 h from last DOAC ingestion and 54.2 % would never give thrombolysis to an otherwise eligible patient within 24-48 h from last DOAC ingestion. A higher proportion of vascular neurologists would never give thrombolysis in patients with DOAC ingestion within 12-48 h compared to other subspecialties (60.7 % vs. 36.4 %, p = 0.05). Nearly, 80 % would change their practice if a well-designed prospective study demonstrated that the symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage rate is not >5 %. ConclusionsA well-designed prospective study with a set safety threshold is likely to change practice patterns in giving thrombolysis in patients with recent DOAC ingestion, particularly among vascular neurologists who are more likely to never give thrombolysis in this setting.

Intravenous Thrombolysis in Patients With Cervical Artery Dissection

Intravenous Thrombolysis in Patients With Cervical Artery Dissection

Prognostic Value of Fibrosis-4 in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients Undergoing Intravenous Thrombolysis.

Although recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) treatment is efficient in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS), a significant percentage of patients who received rt-PA intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) do not achieve a good prognosis. Therefore, the factors that affect the poor prognosis of patients with IVT are needed. The Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) index has been used as a liver fibrosis biomarker. We aimed to investigate the relationship between the FIB-4 index and functional outcomes in patients with AIS receiving IVT. This study prospectively included consecutive patients with AIS receiving IVT between April 2015 and May 2022. We collected clinical and laboratory data and calculated the FIB-4 index. Clinical outcome was poor functional outcome (mRS ≥3) at 3 months after IVT. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the association between FIB-4 and outcome. We explored the interactive effect of FIB-4 and dyslipidemia on poor outcomes, and subgroup analysis was performed. Furthermore, an individualized prediction model based on the FIB-4 for functional outcome was established in the dyslipidemia group. A total of 1135 patients were included, and 41.50% had poor 3-month outcomes. After adjusted by other variants that P value <0.05 in univariable analysis, FIB-4 was independently associated with poor outcomes (OR=1.420; 95% CI: 1.113-1.812; P=0.004). There was a significant interaction between FIB-4 and dyslipidemia on poor outcome (P=0.036), and the independent association between FIB-4 and poor outcome was maintained in the dyslipidemia subgroup (OR=1.646; 95% CI: 1.228-2.206; P=0.001). Furthermore, in the dyslipidemia group, the FIB-4-based prediction model had good predictive value (the AUC of the training and validation sets were 0.767 and 0.708, respectively), good calibration (P-values for the Hosmer-Lemeshow test >0.05), and clinical usefulness. FIB-4 is an independent risk factor for poor outcomes in IVT patients with dyslipidemia, which can be used as a simple predictor of their prognosis.

Trends in sex differences of functional outcome after intravenous thrombolysis in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) is an approved treatment for patients with acute ischemic stroke irrespective of sex. However, the current literature on sex differences in functional outcomes following IVT is inconsistent. So far, a number of studies-including a previous analysis based on data from the Austrian Stroke Unit Registry (ASUR)-detected significant sex-related differences in functional outcome, while others did not report any differences between women and men. In addition, currently there is a lack of data on how sex-related differences evolve over time. To assess time trends of sex-related differences in functional outcome of ischemic stroke in a large nationwide cohort and to investigate associations of patient characteristics with functional outcome post thrombolysis in women and men. These data will offer crucial insights into whether sex differences in functional outcome persist despite the large advances in acute stroke treatment. We analyzed retrospective data of consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke treated with IVT in 39 stroke centers contributing to the ASUR between 2006 and 2021. We included patients over 18 years of age diagnosed with an acute ischemic stroke who received IVT and with available data on functional outcome at 3 months after treatment. The primary outcome parameter was favorable functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale (mRS) of 0-2) at 3 months. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed in the overall population and stratified by sex to assess associations of baseline characteristics with functional outcome. Among 11,840 patients receiving IVT, 2489 of 5503 (45.4%) women achieved favorable functional outcome compared to 3787 of 6337 (59.8%) men. Overall, female sex was a statistically significant predictor of functional outcome after thrombolysis, but additional predictors of outcome differed between women and men. Female sex was independently associated with decreased chances of achieving functional independency (adjusted odds ratio (adjOR) = 0.87, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.79-0.96, p = 0.005) and we detected a statistically significant improvement in functional outcome over time only in men (year of treatment, adjOR (per year) = 1.04, 95% CI = 1.02-1.06, p < 0.001) but not in women (adjOR (per year) = 1.01, 95% CI = 0.99-1.03, p = 0.280). Hypertension, smoking, and longer or unknown onset-to-door times were statistically significant predictors of outcome only in male patients, whereas atrial fibrillation, prior myocardial infarction, and longer door-to-needle times were significantly associated with outcome only in women. Sex differences in functional outcome after IVT for acute ischemic stroke are persisting over the past years. Results of our analysis can increase awareness and a resulting focus on sex differences in predictors of outcome could be helpful in mitigating these differences in the future by supporting a more individualized patient care in clinical routine. Follow-up analyses are needed to assess this potential impact and its effect in the future. Data from the Austrian Stroke Unit Registry can only be accessed by the employed statistician (D.M.), access inquiries have to be addressed to the registry's academic review board.

Antiplatelet therapy versus intravenous thrombolysis for mild acute ischaemic stroke: a living systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundPrevious studies have shown contradictory results between early application of antiplatelet therapy and intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) for mild acute ischaemic stroke (AIS), with National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score...

Very early neurological deterioration during intravenous thrombolysis in patients with acute ischemic stroke

BackgroundNeurological deterioration within 24 h after intravenous thrombolysis with tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is associated with poor outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). This study aimed to elucidate the features of neurological deterioration specifically during tPA infusion in these patients. MethodsWe analyzed patients with AIS receiving thrombolysis between January 2018 and December 2021. Very early neurological deterioration (VEND) was defined as an increase of 4 or more points in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score during tPA infusion. Poor functional outcome was defined as a modified Rankin Scale score of 3–6 at three months. ResultsAmong the 345 patients with AIS who received tPA, 8.4% had VEND; all of which were caused by ischemic progression. Patients with VEND had a higher prevalence of intracranial atherosclerotic disease (41% vs. 17%, P = 0.005). VEND independently predicted poor functional outcome in both groups with minor (NIHSS score <6) and non-minor (NIHSS score >6) stroke. Among patients with minor stroke, those with VEND were more likely to undergo endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) than those without (38% vs. 5%, P = 0.019). In patients receiving EVT after VEND, the NIHSS scores at 24 h, which were correlated with 3-month functional outcome, were lower in those with successful recanalization than in those without (12 ± 9 vs. 26 ± 7, P = 0.047). ConclusionVEND predicted poor functional outcomes in patients with AIS. Timely and successful recanalization using EVT potentially alleviates the negative impact of VEND on long-term outcomes.

Early dual antiplatelet therapy in patients with minor ischemic stroke after intravenous thrombolysis

ObjectivesMinor stroke is defined by a score of 5 or less on the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). Prior trials have shown efficacy of short term dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) in secondary prevention of stroke among patients with transient ischemic attack (TIA) or minor ischemic stroke, but no randomized clinical trials have studied this benefit after intravenous thrombolysis (IVT). Our aim was to investigate the safety of DAPT within 90 days after IVT in patients with acute minor ischemic stroke. Patients and methodsWe reviewed medical records of patients older than 18 years that received IVT between January 2015 and December 2022. Patients had a diagnosis of acute minor stroke or averted stroke (complete recovery and negative image on follow-up). Single or dual antiplatelet treatment was started 24 hours after thrombolysis according to the physician's judgment. Patients were divided in two groups: single and dual antiplatelet therapy. We assessed clinical outcome using the modified Rankin scale (mRS), symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (SICH) and mortality at 90 days. ResultsFifty-three patients met the inclusion criteria, 68% men aged 64±16,5 years. Seventy five percent had an ischemic stroke and 25% had an averted stroke. Median door-to-needle time was 50 minutes. Fifty one percent were in the single antiplatelet group and 49% in the dual antiplatelet therapy group. There were no differences in demographic and clinical characteristics between groups. The 90-day mRS did not show significant difference between groups. No patients had SICH nor died during follow-up. One patient in the single antiplatelet group had stroke recurrence. ConclusionsDual antiplatelet therapy after IVT with rtPA for acute minor ischemic stroke appears not to increase the risk of bleeding and mortality compared to single antiplatelet therapy in the first three months after the event. This is the first study to assess this subject in a Latin American population.

Safety and efficacy of tirofiban combined with intravenous thrombolysis and endovascular treatment in acute large vessel occlusion stroke

ObjectiveThis study assesses the safety and efficacy of tirofiban for patients with large vessel occlusion stroke after intravenous thrombolysis. MethodsThis study data was from SUSTAIN, DEVT, and RESCUE BT trials. According to whether the use of tirofiban who underwent endovascular treatment and preceding intravenous thrombolysis was divided into the tirofiban group and the no-tirofiban group. The safety outcomes were symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, any intracranial hemorrhage within 48 h, and 3-month mortality. The efficacy outcome was defined as a score of 0–2 on the modified Rankin Scale scores at 3 months. ResultsA total of 372 patients with intravenous thrombolysis were included in these SUSTAIN, DEVT, and RESCUE BT trials. Adjusted multivariate analysis showed that tirofiban with intravenous thrombolysis was not associated with symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (aOR, 0.87; 95 % CI, 0.49–1.57; P=0.65), any intracranial hemorrhage within 48 h (aOR, 1.00; 95 % CI, 0.60–1.66; P=1.00), 3-month mortality (aOR, 1.10; 95 % CI, 0.56–2.19; P=0.78) and 3-month modified Rankin Scale scores 0–2 (aOR, 0.72; 95 % CI, 0.42–1.25; P=0.25) in patients with acute large vessel occlusion. In the subgroup analysis, we found that tirofiban was not recommended for females (aOR, 0.34; 95 % CI, 0.12–0.93), baseline Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score≤9 (aOR, 0.37; 95 % CI, 0.18–0.76), and cardiogenic embolism (aOR, 0.36; 95 % CI, 0.14–0.97). ConclusionTirofiban combined with intravenous thrombolysis in patients with acute large vessel occlusion may be safe. Further studies need to confirm the effectiveness of tirofiban after intravenous thrombolysis in different stroke etiology.

Predictive value of monocyte-to-high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol ratio (MHR) for poor prognosis after intravenous thrombolytic therapy for acute ischaemic stroke

IntroductionThe purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between monocyte-to-high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol ratio (MHR) and poor short-term 3-month and long-term 6-month prognosis after intravenous thrombolysis in patients with acute ischaemic stroke.Material and methodsBy retrospective analysis, 763 eligible patients with acute ischaemic stroke with intravenous thrombolysis were included in the study, and the general data and clinical laboratory examination results of the patients were collected. The relationship between MHR and poor prognosis at 3 and 6 months in patients with intravenous thrombolysis was derived by stepwise regression using the R language, followed by 1:1 propensity score matching to determine the MHR threshold and to investigate the relationship between high and low MHR values and poor prognosis.ResultsMHR level was found to predict the prognosis of intravenous thrombolysis patients with acute ischaemic stroke, and it was an effective predictor of poor prognosis at 3 and 6 months after intravenous thrombolysis. MHR has a threshold of 0.584. High MHR levels were strongly associated with a poor 3-month prognosis of intravenous thrombolysis in patients with acute ischaemic stroke (OR = 5.657; 95% CI: 4.124–7.762; p &lt; 0.001). High MHR level was closely associated with poor prognosis of acute ischaemic stroke patients with intravenous thrombolysis at 6 months (OR = 4.923; 95% CI: 3.603–6.726; p &lt; 0.001).ConclusionsMHR level is a valid predictor for poor prognosis at 3-6 months after intravenous thrombolysis in patients in acute ischaemic stroke.

Safety and efficacy of active blood-pressure reduction to the recommended thresholds for intravenous thrombolysis in patients with acute ischaemic stroke in the Netherlands (TRUTH): a prospective, observational, cluster-based, parallel-group study

Intravenous thrombolysis is contraindicated in patients with ischaemic stroke with blood pressure higher than 185/110 mm Hg. Prevailing guidelines recommend to actively lower blood pressure with intravenous antihypertensive agents to allow for thrombolysis; however, there is no robust evidence for this strategy. Because rapid declines in blood pressure can also adversely affect clinical outcomes, several Dutch stroke centres use a conservative strategy that does not involve the reduction of blood pressure. We aimed to compare the clinical outcomes of both strategies. Thrombolysis and Uncontrolled Hypertension (TRUTH) was a prospective, observational, cluster-based, parallel-group study conducted across 37 stroke centres in the Netherlands. Participating centres had to strictly adhere to an active blood-pressure-lowering strategy or to a non-lowering strategy. Eligible participants were adults (≥18 years) with ischaemic stroke who had blood pressure higher than 185/110 mm Hg but were otherwise eligible for intravenous thrombolysis. The primary outcome was functional status at 90 days, measured using the modified Rankin Scale and assessed through telephone interviews by trained research nurses. Secondary outcomes were symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage, the proportion of patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis, and door-to-needle time. All ordinal logistic regression analyses were adjusted for age, sex, stroke severity, endovascular thrombectomy, and baseline imbalances as fixed-effect variables and centre as a random-effect variable to account for the clustered design. Analyses were done according to the intention-to-treat principle, whereby all patients were analysed according to the treatment strategy of the participating centre at which they were treated. Recruitment began on Jan 1, 2015, and was prematurely halted because of a declining inclusion rate and insufficient funding on Jan 5, 2022. Between these dates, we recruited 853 patients from 27 centres that followed an active blood-pressure-lowering strategy and 199 patients from ten centres that followed a non-lowering strategy. Baseline characteristics of participants from the two groups were similar. The 90-day mRS score was missing for 15 patients. The adjusted odds ratio (aOR) for a shift towards a worse 90-day functional outcome was 1·27 (95% CI 0·96-1·68) for active blood-pressure reduction compared with no active blood-pressure reduction. 798 (94%) of 853 patients in the active blood-pressure-lowering group were treated with intravenous thrombolysis, with a median door-to-needle time of 35 min (IQR 25-52), compared with 104 (52%) of 199 patients treated in the non-lowering group with a median time of 47 min (29-78). 42 (5%) of 852 patients in the active blood-pressure-lowering group had a symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage compared with six (3%) of 199 of those in the non-lowering group (aOR 1·28 [95% CI 0·62-2·62]). Insufficient evidence was available to establish a difference between an active blood-pressure-lowering strategy-in which antihypertensive agents were administered to reduce blood pressure below 185/110 mm Hg-and a non-lowering strategy for the functional outcomes of patients with ischaemic stroke, despite higher intravenous thrombolysis rates and shorter door-to-needle times among those in the active blood-pressure-lowering group. Randomised controlled trials are needed to inform the use of an active blood-pressure-lowering strategy. Fonds NutsOhra.

Outcomes of Bridging Intravenous Thrombolysis Versus Endovascular Therapy Alone in Late-Window Acute Ischemic Stroke.

Studies comparing bridging intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) with direct endovascular therapy (EVT) in patients with acute ischemic stroke who present late are limited. We aimed to compare the clinical outcomes and safety of bridging IVT in patients with acute ischemic stroke due to anterior circulation large vessel occlusion who underwent EVT 6 to 24 hours after time last known well. We enrolled patients with anterior circulation large vessel occlusion stroke and a National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score of ≥6 from 20 centers across 10 countries in the multicenter retrospective CLEAR study (CT for Late Endovascular Reperfusion) between January 2014 and May 2022. We used inverse probability of treatment weighting modeling adjusted for clinical and imaging confounders to compare functional outcomes, reperfusion success, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, and mortality between EVT patients with and without prior IVT. Of 5098 patients screened for eligibility, we included 2749 patients, of whom 549 received bridging IVT before EVT. The timing of IVT was not recorded. Witnessed stroke onset and transfer rates were higher in the bridging IVT group (25% versus 12% and 77% versus 55%, respectively, P value for both <0.0001), and time intervals between stroke onset and treatment were shorter (time last known well-start of EVT median 560 minutes [interquartile range, 432-791] versus 724 minutes [interquartile range, 544-912]; P<0.0001). After adjustment for confounders, there was no difference in functional outcome at 3 months (adjusted common odds ratio for modified Rankin Scale shift, 1.03 [95% CI, 0.89-1.19]; P=0.72) or successful reperfusion (adjusted odds ratio, 1.19 [95% CI, 0.81-1.75]; P=0.39). There were no safety concerns associated with bridging IVT versus direct EVT (symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage: adjusted odds ratio, 0.75 [95% CI, 0.38-1.48]; P=0.40; mortality: adjusted odds ratio, 1.14 [95% CI, 0.89-1.46]; P=0.31). Results were unchanged when the analysis was limited to patients who received IVT >6 hours after last known well. In patients with an anterior circulation large vessel occlusion stroke who underwent EVT 6 to 24 hours from last known well, bridging IVT was not associated with a difference in outcomes compared with direct EVT. URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT04096248.

Intravenous thrombolysis in patients with recent intake of direct oral anticoagulants: A target trial analysis after the liberalization of institutional guidelines.

This study aimed to report the safety and efficacy of off-label intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) with alteplase after sequentially liberalizing our institutional guidelines allowing IVT for patients under direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) regardless of plasma levels, time of last intake, and without prior anticoagulation reversal therapy. We utilized the target-trial methodology to emulate hypothetical criteria of a randomized controlled trial in our prospective stroke registry. Consecutive DOAC patients (06/2021-11/2023) otherwise qualifying for IVT were included. Safety and efficacy outcomes (symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage [ICH], any radiological ICH, major bleeding, 90-day mortality, 90-day good functional outcome [mRS 0-2 or return to baseline]) were assessed using inverse-probability-weighted regression-adjustment comparing patients with versus without IVT. Ninety eight patients fulfilled the target-trial criteria. IVT was given in 49/98 (50%) patients at a median of 178 (interquartile range 134-285) min after symptom onset with median DOAC plasma level of 77 ng/ml (15 patients had plasma levels > 100 ng/ml; 25/49 [51%] were treated within 12 h after last DOAC ingestion). Endovascular therapy was more frequent in patients without IVT (73% vs 33%). Symptomatic ICH occurred in 0/49 patients receiving IVT and 2/49 patients without IVT (adjusted difference -2.5%; 95% CI -5.9 to 0.8). The rates of any radiological ICH were comparable. Patients receiving IVT were more likely to have good functional outcomes. After liberalizing our approach for IVT regardless of recent DOAC intake, we did not experience any safety concerns. The association of IVT with better functional outcomes warrants prospective randomized controlled trials.

Predictive value of the BDH2-MN2 nomogram model for prognosis at 3 months after receiving intravenous thrombolysis in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

The present study focused on developing a nomogram model to predict the 3-month survival of patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) receiving intravenous thrombolysis with tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). A total of 709 patients were enrolled in the present study, including 496 patients in the training set and 213 patients in the validation set. All data were statistically analyzed using R software. We applied LASSO regression analysis to construct nomograms by screening statistically significant predictors from all variables.The model discrimination was evaluated based on the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC-ROC). LASSO regression analysis was conducted for all variables, which revealed BNP, DNT, HCY, HDL, MHR, NHR and post-thrombolysis NIHSS as independent predictors of adverse outcomes at 3 months after intravenous thrombolysis. Accordingly, these seven factors were incorporated in the nominated BDH2-MN2 nomogram. The resulting AUC-ROC values determined for the training and validation sets were 0.937 (95% CI: 0.822-0.954) and 0.898 (95% CI: 0.748-0.921), respectively. A robust BDH2-MN2 (BNP, DNT, HCY, HDL, MHR, NHR and post-thrombolysis NIHSS) nomogram model was successfully developed and validated. The developed nomogram enables prediction of adverse outcomes of individual AIS patients receiving intravenous thrombolysis with alteplase for 3 months.

Abstract 1158: Antiplatelet Therapy Versus Intravenous Thrombolysis For Mild Nondisabling Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Living Systematic Review And Meta-analysis

Background: Previous studies have shown contradictory results between early application of antiplatelet therapy and intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) for mild nondisabling (defined as NIHSS score of 0 to 5) acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Objective: To compare the benefits and risks of antiplatelet therapy and IVT in patients with mild nondisabling AIS. Methods: A systematic search of MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Library was conducted from database inception until July 26, 2023, without language restriction. Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) or observational studies were selected. The primary outcomes were 90-day functional outcomes, measured by the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score. The protocol has been registered before data collection (PROSPERO CRD42023447862). Results: Two RCTs and four observational studies with relatively low risk of bias that enrolled 3975 patients were analyzed (2454 in antiplatelet therapy and 1521 in IVT therapy). There were no significant differences between antiplatelet therapy and IVT in 90-day functional outcomes (mRS 0-1, odds ratio [OR], 1.08 [95% CI, 0.73-1.58]; mRS 0-2, OR, 1.04 [95% CI, 0.63-1.73]), death (OR, 0.64 [95% CI, 0.19-2.13]), and stroke recurrence (OR, 0.71 [95% CI, 0.28-1.79]). Antiplatelet therapy was associated with a reduced risk of sICH compared with IVT (OR, 0.20 [95% CI, 0.06-0.69]). Conclusions: Among patients with mild nondisabling AIS, compared with IVT, early application of antiplatelet therapy was not significantly associated with improved functional outcomes, reduced mortality, or stroke recurrence, but was significantly associated with a reduced risk of sICH. Regular updates will provide the best available evidence as new researches are published.

Prime Time for a Trial Assessing Safety of Intravenous Thrombolysis in Patients Treated With Direct Oral Anticoagulants.

Prime Time for a Trial Assessing Safety of Intravenous Thrombolysis in Patients Treated With Direct Oral Anticoagulants.

Acupuncture Extended the Thrombolysis Window by Suppressing Blood-Brain Barrier Disruption and Regulating Autophagy-Apoptosis Balance after Ischemic Stroke.

Ischemic stroke (IS) is one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. The narrow therapeutic window (within 4.5 h) and severe hemorrhagic potential limits therapeutic efficacy of recombinant tissue type plasminogen activator (rt-PA) intravenous thrombolysis for patients. Xingnao Kaiqiao (XNKQ) acupuncture is an integral part of traditional Chinese medicine, specifically designed to address acute ischemic stroke by targeting key acupoints such as Shuigou (GV26) and Neiguan (PC6). In this study, we explored the therapeutic potential of XNKQ acupuncture in extending the time window for thrombolysis and interrogated the molecular mechanisms responsible for this effect. The effect of extending the thrombolysis window by acupuncture was evaluated via TTC staining, neuronal score evaluation, hemorrhagic transformation assay, and H&E staining. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) technology was performed to identify the therapeutic targets and intervention mechanisms of acupuncture. Evans blue staining and transmission electron microscopy were used to assess blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity. Immunofluorescence staining and co-immunoprecipitation were performed to evaluate the level of autophagy and apoptosis and validate their interactions with BBB endothelial cells. Acupuncture alleviated infarction and neurological deficits and extended the thrombolysis window to 6 h. The RNA-seq revealed 16 potential therapeutic predictors for acupuncture intervention, which related to suppressing inflammation and restoring the function of BBB and blood vessels. Furthermore, acupuncture suppressed BBB leakage and preserved tight junction protein expression. The protective effect was associated with regulation of the autophagy-apoptosis balance in BBB endothelial cells. Acupuncture intervention dissociated the Beclin1/Bcl-2 complex, thereby promoting autophagy and reducing apoptosis. XNKQ acupuncture could serve as an adjunctive therapy for rt-PA thrombolysis, aiming to extend the therapeutic time window and mitigate ischemia-reperfusion injury. Acupuncture suppressed BBB disruption by regulating the autophagy-apoptosis balance, which in turn extended the therapeutic window of rt-PA in IS. These findings provide a rationale for further exploration of acupuncture as a complementary candidate co-administered with rt-PA.

Endovascular thrombectomy with versus without intravenous thrombolysis in patients with acute basilar artery occlusion: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The benefit and safety of intravenous thrombolysis before endovascular thrombectomy in patients with acute ischemic stroke caused by basilar artery occlusion (BAO) remains unclear. This article aims to investigate the clinical outcomes and safety of endovascular thrombectomy with versus without intravenous thrombolysis in acute BAO stroke patients. We conducted a comprehensive search of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and Web of Science databases to identify relevant literature pertaining to patients with acute BAO who underwent endovascular thrombectomy alone or intravenous thrombolysis bridging with endovascular thrombectomy (bridging therapy), until January 10, 2024. The primary outcome was functional independence, defined as a score of 0-2 on the modified Rankin Scale at 90days. The safety outcome was mortality at 90days and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage within 48h. Effect sizes were computed as risk ratio (RR) with random-effect models. This study was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023462293). A total of 528 articles were obtained through the search and articles that did not meet the inclusion criteria were excluded. Finally, 2 RCTs and 10 cohort studies met the inclusion criteria. The findings revealed that the endovascular thrombectomy alone group had a lower rate of functional independence compared to the bridging therapy group (29% vs 38%; RR 0.78, 95% CI 0.68-0.88, p < 0.001), lower independent ambulation (39% vs 45%; RR 0.89, 95% CI 0.82-0.98, p = 0.01), and higher mortality (36% vs 28%, RR 1.22, 95% CI 1.08-1.37, p = 0.001). However, no differences were detected in symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage between the two groups (6% vs 4%; RR 1.12, 95% CI 0.74-1.71, p = 0.58). Intravenous thrombolysis plus endovascular thrombectomy seemed to led to better functional independence, independent ambulation, and lower risk of mortality without increasing the incidence of intracranial hemorrhage compared to endovascular thrombectomy alone. However, given the non-randomized nature of this study, further studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Nomogram prediction model for the risk of intracranial hemorrhagic transformation after intravenous thrombolysis in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Hemorrhagic transformation (HT) after intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) might worsen the clinical outcomes, and a reliable predictive system is needed to identify the risk of hemorrhagic transformation after IVT. Retrospective collection of patients with acute cerebral infarction treated with intravenous thrombolysis in our hospital from 2018 to 2022. 197 patients were included in the research study. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to screen the factors in the predictive nomogram. The performance of nomogram was assessed on the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC-ROC), calibration plots and decision curve analysis (DCA). A total of 197 patients were recruited, of whom 24 (12.1%) developed HT. In multivariate logistic regression model National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) (OR, 1.362; 95% CI, 1.161-1.652; p = 0.001), N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-pro BNP) (OR, 1.012; 95% CI, 1.004-1.020; p = 0.003), neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) (OR, 3.430; 95% CI, 2.082-6.262; p < 0.001), systolic blood pressure (SBP) (OR, 1.039; 95% CI, 1.009-1.075; p = 0.016) were the independent predictors of HT which were used to generate nomogram. The nomogram showed good discrimination due to AUC-ROC values. Calibration plot showed good calibration. DCA showed that nomogram is clinically useful. Nomogram consisting of NIHSS, NT-pro BNP, NLR, SBP scores predict the risk of HT in AIS patients treated with IVT.

Association between baseline hemoglobin level and early neurological deterioration after intravenous thrombolysis in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

To investigate the association between baseline hemoglobin level and early neurologic deterioration (END) after intravenous thrombolysis in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Data of AIS patients who received intravenous thrombolytic therapy at multiple hospitals across the country between January 2017 and July 2020 were collected from the online database Acute Stroke Patients for Stroke Management Quality Evaluation (CASE-Ⅱ, NCT04487340). Binary logistic regression analysis was used to study the factors affecting the occurrence of END after intravenous thrombolytic therapy, and the correlation between baseline hemoglobin level and END was investigated by limiting cubic spline curve analysis. A total of 8162 patients were included. Patients with END had lower baseline hemoglobin levels (136 and 140 g/L, P<0.01) and higher rates of anemia (24.2% and 16.9%, P<0.01) compared with non-END patients. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that baseline hemoglobin level (OR=0.995, 95%CI: 0.991-0.999, P<0.05) and anemia (OR=1.238, 95%CI: 1.055-1.454, P<0.01) were independently correlated with the occurrence of END after intravenous thrombolysis in AIS patients. Restricted cubic spline regression showed that there was a U-shaped relationship between hemoglobin level and the risk of END after intravenous thrombolysis in AIS patients (P<0.01), although this relationship was only significant in male patients (P<0.05) and not in female patients (P>0.05). There is a correlation between baseline hemoglobin level and the risk of END in AIS patients after intravenous thrombolysis, especially in male patients, in whom both lower and higher hemoglobin level may increase the risk of END.