Predictors of good outcome after intravenous tPA for acute ischemic stroke.
BACKGROUND
Thrombolytic therapy for acute ischemic stroke with IV alteplase is increasingly well established in North America but not elsewhere. Baseline factors that altered the response to alteplase were not identified by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke tPA Stroke Study Group.


METHODS
The authors gathered information from centers in the United States, Canada, and Germany on 1,205 patients with acute ischemic stroke treated with IV alteplase. The purpose was to identify independent factors that were predictive of good outcome using multivariable logistic regression modelling. The modified Rankin Scale score was dichotomized into good outcome (mRS 0 to 1) and poor outcome (mRS >1) as the primary outcome measure.


RESULTS
In relative order of decreasing magnitude, milder baseline stroke severity, no history of diabetes mellitus, normal CT scan, normal pretreatment blood glucose level, and normal pretreatment blood pressure were independent predictors of good outcome among patients treated with IV alteplase for acute ischemic stroke. Confounding was observed among history of diabetes mellitus, CT scan appearance, baseline serum glucose level, and blood pressure, suggesting important relationships among these variables.


CONCLUSIONS
Several factors were independently predictive of good outcome among patients with acute ischemic stroke treated with alteplase. These results require further confirmation before clinical implementation.
Demchuk
A M
AM
Stroke Unit, Department of Neurology, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel.
Tanne
D
D
Hill
M D
MD
Kasner
S E
SE
Hanson
S
S
Grond
M
M
Levine
S R
SR
D000208:Acute Disease; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D020521:Stroke / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator