title: [Thrombolytic therapy of brain infarct: the end of beginning].
abstract: Thrombolysis by intravenous application of thrombolytic drugs may improve the outcome of patients with a brain infarct, but it also entails risks. The effect of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) was compared with placebo in three medium-sized randomized controlled clinical trials. One study, performed in North America, showed a clear benefit of rtPA administered within 3 hours after the onset of symptoms. Two European trials showed a less strong effect, but the number of patients who were independent after 3 months' follow-up was also larger after treatment with rtPA within 6 hours. A meta-analysis of all three trials demonstrates a significant advantage of rtPA over placebo for all the usual outcome measures, without significant excess mortality in the rtPA group. The chance of being able to live independently increases by about 8% after treatment with rtPA. In conclusion there is now sufficient evidence to start with thrombolytic treatment for cerebral infarcts in hospitals with a stroke unit, if a number of additional quality standards for the acute diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients are met.
authors.affiliation: Afd. Neurologie, Academisch Medisch Centrum/Universiteit van Amsterdam. J.Stam@amc.uva.nl
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stam
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Koudstaal
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Franke
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Kappelle
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Boiten
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D020520:Brain Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000075202:Contraindications; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D010960:Plasminogen Activators / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D010960:Plasminogen Activators; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator
vernacular_title: Trombolyse voor het herseninfarct: het einde van het begin.