title: Thrombolytic therapy in acute ischaemic stroke.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility, clinical effect and safety of intravenous thrombolysis with tissue plasminogen activator in patients with acute ischaemic stroke treated in an acute stroke unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients admitted within 3 h after an acute ischaemic stroke were considered for thrombolysis. Twenty-four patients were treated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ten patients demonstrated early clinical improvement compatible with a positive effect of thrombolysis. Five patients demonstrated a substantial but slow clinical improvement with an uncertain relationship to thrombolysis. Nine patients did not improve. One patient developed an intracerebral haematoma and 2 developed a haemorrhagic infarction without clinical deterioration. Five patients (21%) died within the first 3 months. At follow-up after 6 months, 10 patients (42%) had achieved independence [modified Rankin Scale (mRS) 0-2], 9 (33%) had an unfavourable outcome (mRS 3-5) and 5 patients (21%) had died. None of these 5 patients died due to a treatment complication.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study in a small patient population suggests that thrombolysis may be administered relatively safely in an acute stroke unit without intensive care facilities. The clinical effect and safety were similar to those which have been found in large randomised studies and clinical series.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway. lars.thomassen@haukeland.no
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Thomassen
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Waje-Andreassen
authors.forename: Ase Hagen
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Morsund
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hordnes
authors.forename: Corinna
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Maintz
authors.forename: Alf I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Smievoll
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Russell
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002533:Cerebral Angiography; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D020244:Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator