Skip to main content

Intravenous Thrombolysis

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Textbook of Neuroanesthesia and Neurocritical Care
  • 1236 Accesses

Abstract

Acute ischemic stroke is a leading cause of disability worldwide. It is caused by a thrombus that blocks the flow of blood in a vessel of the brain. Early reperfusion therapy to restore blood flow by lysing the thrombus may reduce the volume of cerebral tissue irreversibly damaged. Intravenous thrombolytic drugs, particularly alteplase, have become the standard of treatment in acute ischemic stroke. With various randomized trials and increasing level of evidence, the eligibility criteria for the use of intravenous alteplase have been streamlined, thereby reducing the risks associated with this therapy, most notably symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 149.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Sacco RL, Kasner SE, Broderick JP, et al. An updated definition of stroke for the 21st century: a statement for healthcare professionals from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. Stroke. 2013;44:2064–89.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Feigin VL, Norrving B, Mensah GA. Global Burden of Stroke. Circ Res. 2017;120(3):439–48.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Fisher M, Ginsberg M. Current concepts of the ischemic penumbra. Stroke. 2004;35:2657–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Guadagno JV, Jones PS, Aigbirhio FI, Wang D, Fryer TD, Day DJ, et al. Selective neuronal loss in rescued penumbra relates to initial hypoperfusion. Brain. 2008;131(Pt 10):2666–78.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Sussman BJ, Fitch TS. Thrombolysis with fibrinolysin in cerebral arterial occlusion. JAMA. 1958;167(14):1705–9.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Donnan GA, Davis SM, Chambers BR, Gates PC, Hankey GJ, McNeil JJ, Rosen D, Stewart-Wynne EG, Tuck RR, for the Australian Streptokinase (ASK) Trial Study Group. Streptokinase for acute ischaemic stroke with relationship to time of administration. JAMA. 1996;276:966.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Multicentre Acute Stroke Trial—Italy (MAST-I) Group. Randomised controlled trial of streptokinase, aspirin and combination of both in treatment of acute ischaemic stroke. Lancet. 1995;346:1509–14.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Multicenter Acute Stroke Trial—Europe Study Group. Thrombolytic therapy with streptokinase in acute ischemic stroke. N Engl J Med. 1996;335:145–50.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Brott TG, Haley EC, Levy DE, et al. Urgent therapy for stroke. Part I. Pilot study of tissue plasminogen activator administered within 90 minutes. Stroke. 1992;23(5):632–40.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Haley EC, Levy DE, Brott TG, et al. Urgent therapy for stroke. Part II. Pilot study of tissue plasminogen activator administered 91-180 minutes from onset. Stroke. 1992;23(5):641–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. NINDS tPA Study Group. Tissue plasminogen activator for acute ischemic stroke. N Engl J Med. 1995;333:1581–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Hacke W, Kaste M, Fieschi C, Toni D, Lesaffre E, von Kummer R, et al. Intravenous thrombolysis with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator for acute hemispheric stroke. The European Cooperative Acute Stroke Study (ECASS). JAMA. 1995;274:1017–25.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Hacke W, Kaste M, Fieschi C, von Kummer R, Davalos A, Meier D, et al. Randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial of thrombolytic therapy with intravenous alteplase in acute ischaemic stroke (ECASS II). Second European-Australasian Acute Stroke Study Investigators. Lancet. 1998;352:1245–51.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Albers GW, Clark WM, Madden KP, Hamilton SA. ATLANTIS trial: results for patients treated within 3 hours of stroke onset. Alteplase thrombolysis for acute noninterventional therapy in ischemic stroke. Stroke. 2002;33:493–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Clark WM, Wissman S, Albers GW, Jhamandas JH, Madden KP, Hamilton S. Recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (Alteplase) for ischemic stroke 3 to 5 hours after symptom onset. The ATLANTIS Study: a randomized controlled trial. Alteplase thrombolysis for acute noninterventional therapy in ischemic stroke. JAMA. 1999;282:2019–26.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Hacke W, Kaste M, Bluhmki E, Brozman M, Dávalos A, Guidetti D, et al. Thrombolysis with alteplase 3 to 4.5 hours after acute ischemic stroke. N Engl J Med. 2008;359(13):1317–29.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Sandercock P, Wardlaw JM, Lindley RI, Dennis M, Cohen G, Murray G, et al. The benefits and harms of intravenous thrombolysis with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator within 6 h of acute ischaemic stroke (the third international stroke trial [IST-3]): a randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2012;379(9834):2352–63.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Wardlaw JM, Murray V, Berge E, del Zoppo GJ. Thrombolysis for acute ischaemic stroke. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014;7(7):CD000213.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Powers WJ, Rabinstein AA, Ackerson T, Adeoye OM, Bambakidis NC, Becker K, Biller J, Brown M, Demaerschalk BM, Hoh B, et al. 2018 guidelines for the early management of patients with acute ischemic stroke: a guideline for healthcare professionals from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. Stroke. 2018;49(3):e46–110.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Campbell BCV, Mitchell PJ, Churilov L, et al. Tenectaplase versus alteplase before thrombectomy for ischemic stroke. N Engl J Med. 2018;378:1573–82.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. National Institute of Health, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. NIH stroke scale. https://www.ninds.nih.gov/sites/default/files/NIH_Stroke_Scale_Booklet.pdf. Accessed 11 May 2018.

  22. Demchuk AM, Khan F, Hill MD, Barber PA, Silver B, Patel S, Levine SR, NINDS rt-PA Stroke Study Group. Importance of leukoaraiosis on CT for tissue plasminogen activator decision making: evaluation of the NINDS rt-PA Stroke Study. Cerebrovasc Dis. 2008;26:120–5.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  23. Dzialowski I, Hill MD, Coutts SB, Demchuk AM, Kent DM, Wunderlich O, von Kummer R. Extent of early ischemic changes on computed tomography (CT) before thrombolysis: prognostic value of the Alberta stroke program early CT score in ECASS II. Stroke. 2006;37:973–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Demchuk AM, Hill MD, Barber PA, Silver B, Patel SC, Levine SR, for the NINDS rtPA Stroke Study Group, NIH. Importance of early ischemic computed tomography changes using ASPECTS in NINDS rtPA Stroke Study. Stroke. 2005;36:2110–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Patel SC, Levine SR, Tilley BC, Grotta JC, Lu M, Frankel M, Haley EC Jr, Brott TG, Broderick JP, Horowitz S, Lyden PD, Lewandowski CA, Marler JR, Welch KM, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke rt-PA Stroke Study Group. Lack of clinical significance of early ischemic changes on computed tomography in acute stroke. JAMA. 2001;286:2830–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Rost NS, Masrur S, Pervez MA, Viswanathan A, Schwamm LH. Unsuspected coagulopathy rarely prevents IV thrombolysis in acute ischemic stroke. Neurology. 2009;73:1957–62.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  27. Cucchiara BL, Jackson B, Weiner M, Messe SR. Usefulness of checking platelet count before thrombolysis in acute ischemic stroke. Stroke. 2007;38:1639–40.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. James P, Ellis CJ, Whitlock RM, McNeil AR, Henley J, Anderson NE. Relation between troponin T concentration and mortality in patients presenting with an acute stroke: observational study. BMJ. 2000;320:1502–4.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  29. Jensen JK, Kristensen SR, Bak S, Atar D, Høilund-Carlsen PF, Mickley H. Frequency and significance of troponin T elevation in acute ischemic stroke. Am J Cardiol. 2007;99:108–12.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Demchuk AM. Yes, intravenous thrombolysis should be administered in pregnancy when other clinical and imaging factors are favorable. Stroke. 2013;44:864–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Saber H, Silver B, Santillan A, Azarpazhooh MR, Misra V, Behrouz R. Role of emergent chest radiography in evaluation of hyperacute stroke. Neurology. 2016;87:782–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Lima FO, Lev MH, Levy RA, Silva GS, Ebril M, de Camargo EC, Pomerantz S, Singhal AB, Greer DM, Ay H, González RG, Koroshetz WJ, Smith WS, Furie KL. Functional contrast-enhanced CT for evaluation of acute ischemic stroke does not increase the risk of contrastinduced nephropathy. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2010;31:817–21.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  33. Hopyan JJ, Gladstone DJ, Mallia G, Schiff J, Fox AJ, Symons SP, Buck BH, Black SE, Aviv RI. Renal safety of CT angiography and perfusion imaging in the emergency evaluation of acute stroke. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2008;29:1826–30.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  34. Krol AL, Dzialowski I, Roy J, Puetz V, Subramaniam S, Coutts SB, Demchuk AM. Incidence of radiocontrast nephropathy in patients undergoing acute stroke computed tomography angiography. Stroke. 2007;38:2364–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Nogueira RG, Jadhav AP, Haussen DC, Bonafe A, Budzik RF, Bhuva P, et al. Thrombectomy 6 to 24 hours after stroke with a mismatch between deficit and infarct. N Engl J Med. 2018;378(1):11–21.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Albers GW, Marks MP, Kemp S, Christensen S, Tsai JP, Ortega-Gutierrez S, et al. Thrombectomy for stroke at 6 to 16 hours with selection by perfusion imaging. N Engl J Med. 2018;378(8):708–18.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  37. Vemmos KN, Spengos K, Tsivgoulis G, Zakopoulos N, Manios E, Kotsis V, et al. Factors influencing acute blood pressure values in stroke subtypes. J Hum Hypertens. 2004;18:253–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Ahmed N, Wahlgren N, Brainin M, Castillo J, Ford GA, Kaste M, Lees KR, Toni D, SITS Investigators. Relationship of blood pressure, antihypertensive therapy, and outcome in ischemic stroke treated with intravenous thrombolysis. Retrospective analysis from safe implementation of thrombolysis in stroke-international stroke thrombolysis register (SITS-ISTR). Stroke. 2009;40:2442–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Butcher K, Christensen S, Parsons M, De Silva DA, Ebinger M, Levi C, et al. Postthrombolysis blood pressure elevation is associated with hemorrhagic transformation. Stroke. 2010;41:72–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Perini F, De Boni A, Marcon M, Bolgan I, Pellizzari M, Dionisio LD. Systolic blood pressure contributes to intracerebral haemorrhage after thrombolysis for ischemic stroke. J Neurol Sci. 2010;297:52–4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Cronin CA, Sheth KN, Zhao X, Messé SR, Olson DM, Hernandez AF, et al. Adherence to third European cooperative acute stroke study 3- to 4.5-hour exclusions and association with outcome: data from get with the guidelines-stroke. Stroke. 2014;45:2745–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Mishra NK, Ahmed N, Davalos A, Iversen HK, Melo T, Soinne L, et al. Thrombolysis outcomes in acute ischemic stroke patients with prior stroke and diabetes mellitus. Neurology. 2011;77:1866–72.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Xian Y, Federspiel JJ, Grau-Sepulveda M, Hernandez AF, Schwamm LH, Bhatt DL, et al. Risks and benefits associated with prestroke antiplatelet therapy among patients with acute ischemic stroke treated with intravenous tissue plasminogen activator. JAMA Neurol. 2016;73:50–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Luo S, Zhuang M, Zeng W, Tao J. Intravenous thrombolysis for acute ischemic stroke in patients receiving antiplatelet therapy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 19 studies. J Am Heart Assoc. 2016;5(5):e003242.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  45. Pan X, Zhu Y, Zheng D, Liu Y, Yu F, Yang J. Prior antiplatelet agent use and outcomes after intravenous thrombolysis with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator in acute ischemic stroke: a meta-analysis of cohort studies and randomized controlled trials. Int J Stroke. 2015;10:317–23.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Hao Z, Yang C, Liu M, Wu B. Renal dysfunction and thrombolytic therapy in patients with acute ischemic stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicine (Baltimore). 2014;93(28):e286.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Na DG, Sohn CH, Kim EY. Imaging-based management of acute ischemic stroke patients: current neuroradiological perspectives. Korean J Radiol. 2015;16:372–90.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  48. Demaerschalk BM, Kleindorfer DO, Adeoye OM, Demchuk AM, Fugate JE, Grotta JC, et al. Scientific rationale for the inclusion and exclusion criteria for intravenous alteplase in acute ischemic stroke: a statement for healthcare professionals from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. Stroke. 2016;47:581–641.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Adams RJ, Cox M, Ozark SD, Kanter J, Schulte PF, Xian Y, et al. Coexistent sickle cell disease has no impact on the safety and outcome of lytic therapy in acute ischemic stroke. Stroke. 2017;48:686–91.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. White-Bateman SR, Schumacher HC, Sacco RL, Appelbaum PS. Consent for intravenous thrombolysis in acute stroke: review and future directions. Arch Neurol. 2007;64:785–92.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Miller DJ, Simpson JR, Silver B. Safety of thrombolysis in acute ischemic stroke: a review of complications, risk factors, and newer technologies. Neurohospitalist. 2011;1(3):138–47.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  52. The NINDS t-PA Stroke Study Group. Intracerebral hemorrhage after intravenous t-PA therapy for ischemic stroke. Stroke. 1997;28(11):2109–18.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  53. Kase CS, Furlan AJ, Wechsler LR, et al. Cerebral hemorrhage after intra-arterial thrombolysis for ischemic stroke: the PROACT II trial. Neurology. 2001;57(9):1603–10.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. Tanne D, Kasner SE, Demchuk AM, et al. Markers of increased risk of intracerebral hemorrhage after intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator therapy for acute ischemic stroke in clinical practice: the Multicenter rt-PA stroke survey. Circulation. 2002;105(14):1679–85.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  55. Wahlgren N, Ahmed N, Eriksson N, et al. Multivariable analysis of outcome predictors and adjustment of main outcome results to baseline data profile in randomized controlled trials: safe implementation of thrombolysis in stroke-MOnitoring STudy (SITS-MOST). Stroke. 2008;39(12):3316–22.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  56. Cucchiara B, Kasner SE, Tanne D, et al. Factors associated with intracerebral hemorrhage after thrombolytic therapy for ischemic stroke: pooled analysis of placebo data from the stroke-acute ischemic NXY treatment (SAINT) I and SAINT II trials. Stroke. 2009;40(9):3067–72.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. Lansberg MG, Albers GW, Wijman CA. Symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage following thrombolytic therapy for acute ischemic stroke: a review of the risk factors. Cerebrovasc Dis. 2007;24(1):1–10.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  58. French KF, White J, Hoesch RE. Treatment of intracerebral hemorrhage with tranexamic acid after thrombolysis with tissue plasminogen activator. Neurocrit Care. 2012;17:107–11.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  59. Yaghi S, Eisenberger A, Willey JZ. Symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage in acute ischemic stroke after thrombolysis with intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator: a review of natural history and treatment. JAMA Neurol. 2014;71:1181–5.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  60. Rudolf J, Grond M, Schmulling S, Neveling M, Heiss W. Orolingual angioneurotic edema following therapy of acute ischemic stroke with alteplase. Neurology. 2000;55(4):599–600.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  61. Hill MD, Lye T, Moss H, et al. Hemi-orolingual angioedema and ACE inhibition after alteplase treatment of stroke. Neurology. 2003;60(9):1525–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  62. O’Carroll CB, Aguilar MI. Management of postthrombolysis hemorrhagic and orolingual angioedema complications. Neurohospitalist. 2015;5:133–41.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  63. Myslimi F, Caparros F, Dequatre-Ponchelle N, Moulin S, Gautier S, Girardie P, et al. Orolingual angioedema during or after thrombolysis for cerebral ischemia. Stroke. 2016;47:1825–30.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  64. Pahs L, Droege C, Kneale H, Pancioli A. A novel approach to the treatment of orolingual angioedema after tissue plasminogen activator administration. Ann Emerg Med. 2016;68:345–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Singhal, V., Wanchoo, J. (2019). Intravenous Thrombolysis. In: Prabhakar, H., Ali, Z. (eds) Textbook of Neuroanesthesia and Neurocritical Care. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-3387-3_25

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-3387-3_25

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-13-3386-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-13-3387-3

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics