Criteria for selection of older patients for thrombolytic therapy.
Thrombolysis is the first effective treatment for stroke. Considerable preclinical and early clinical studies set the stage for the final, definitive demonstration of rtPA efficacy. Since the publication of the original trial, there have been a number of subsequent analyses of subgroups. In particular, the authors discuss the use of thrombolytic therapy in elderly people. There is limited evidence that rtPA is effective at all ages. Criteria for selecting patients and management guidelines are presented.
Brockington
C D
CD
UCSD Stroke Center, University of California, San Diego, California 92103-8466, USA.
Lyden
P D
PD
D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D018579:Patient Selection; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D020521:Stroke / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000627:therapeutic use
D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator