Evaluation of Thrombolytic Therapy in Acute Ischemic Stroke Outcome: A Cohort Study From North of Iran

The variables of the study, including demographic characteristics, risk factors, complete drug history, nosocomial infection and other in-hospital events, hemorrhagic complications, duration of hospitalization,door to needle time, symptom to needle time, clinical and imaging characteristics of resent stroke, laboratory data including fasting blood glucose, lipid profile (total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL, HDL), hematology markers (CBC diff, HGB, platelet), coagulation markers (PT, PTT, INR), liver function test (ALT, AST, ALP, Bill) and renal function test (BUN, Cr, Cr cl) were collected. All patients underwent a brain computed tomography scan early on the admission and after 24 hours. Cardiological evaluation including Electrocardiogram and echocardiography performed for all patients. Carotid and vertebrobasillar assessed by Doppler ultrasound or magnetic resonance angiography (MRA).

Stroke severity estimated by using modified Rankin Scale (mRS) and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale(NIHSS) scores on the first day of admission and at discharge by a neurology resident. Then patient evaluate every 3 months until 12 m for fallow up and in each visit vital sign, patient clinical status, any event, Barthel index was recorded.

Safety endpoints of this study were any adverse events clinically relevant to alteplase, specially hemorrhagic complications.

All patients who met all inclusion and exclusion criteria treated with 0.9 mg/kg recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (Actilyse, Boehringer Industry, Germany) up to maximum of 90 mg, 10% of which was injected as a blous dose and remainder infused over an hour.

Primary outcome of this study was alteplase effect in reduce morbidity rate defined by NIHSS and mRS score reduction and rate of functional independence at 3,6 and 12 months Barthel index in fallow up. Minimal clinically important difference defined as reduce NIHSS score at least 25% or MRS score 2 point at discharge day in comparison to admission day. In fallow up evaluations Barthel index 85-100 was considered favorable outcome. Binary outcomes included independence compared with disability or death.