Methodology for the Canadian Activase for Stroke Effectiveness Study (CASES).  CASES Investigators.
BACKGROUND
Intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (tPA, alteplase) was conditionally licensed for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in Canada on February 17, 1999. As a condition of licensure, the Canadian Activase for Stroke Effectiveness Study (CASES) was established to monitor the use of alteplase for AIS in Canada. The study involves multiple stakeholders.


METHODS
CASES is a prospective registry of patients treated with alteplase for AIS. The purposes of this registry are to ensure the safety of the drug in the Canadian context, to assess effectiveness of alteplase for AIS and to gather further information to try to establish which patients are most likely to benefit from treatment.


RESULTS
Both community (n=25) and tertiary centres (n=35) have enrolled a total of 944 patients to date. Early results suggest that thrombolytic stroke treatment is both safe and effective among these centres.


CONCLUSIONS
This paper outlines the development of and methods for the CASES study. The study is an example of a multi-stakeholder collaboration to advance the care of patients with acute stroke.
Hill
M D
MD
Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Foothills Medical Centre, AB, Canada.
Buchan
A M
AM
D000368:Aged; D002170:Canada; D003625:Data Collection; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D018579:Patient Selection; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012107:Research Design; D018401:Sample Size; D020521:Stroke / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator