title: Aggressive therapy with intravenous abciximab and intra-arterial rtPA and additional PTA/stenting improves clinical outcome in acute vertebrobasilar occlusion: combined local fibrinolysis and intravenous abciximab in acute vertebrobasilar stroke treatment (FAST): results of a multicenter study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A combined therapy of local recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) fibrinolysis and intravenous Abciximab platelet inhibition with additional percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA)/stenting may improve recanalization and neurological outcome in patients with acute vertebrobasilar occlusion.
  
  
  METHODS
  Combined FAST therapy consisted on intravenous bolus of Abciximab (0.25 mg/kg) followed by a 12-hour infusion therapy (0.125 microg/kg per minute) and low-dose intra-arterial rtPA (median dosage: 20 mg, FAST cohort: N=47). The results were compared with a retrospective cohort, treated by intraarterial rtPA monotherapy (median dosage: 40 mg, rtPA cohort, N=41). Additional PTA/stenting was performed in case of severe residual stenosis. Recanalization success was classified according to the Trials in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) criteria: TIMI0/1, failed recanalization; TIMI2/3, successful recanalization. Bleeding complications were evaluated according to severe extracerebral hemorrhage (ECH), asymptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (AIH), and symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (SIH).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall bleeding rate was higher under the combined therapy, but the SIH rate did not differ (FAST versus rtPA: ECH, 3% versus 0%; AIH, 32% versus 22%; SIH 13% versus 12%). Additional PTA/stenting was performed in 14 (FAST) versus 5 (rtPA) patients. TIMI2/3 recanalization rate was similar (FAST, 72%; rtPA, 68%), but TIMI3 rate was remarkably higher under combined therapy (FAST, 45%; rtPA, N=22%). Neurologic outcome appeared better under combined therapy (FAST versus rtPA: favorable outcome rate: 34% versus 17%) with a significantly lower mortality rate (FAST versus rtPA: 38% versus 68%; P=0.006). These results were consistent for embolic and atherothrombotic occlusions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Combined therapy of intravenous Abciximab and half dose intra-arterial rtPA with additional PTA/stenting appears to improve neurologic outcome in acute vertebrobasilar occlusion despite an increase of overall bleeding complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany. bernd.eckert@ak-altona.lbk-hh.de
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Eckert
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.forename: Götz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Thomalla
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kucinski
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Grzyska
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Roether
authors.forename: Karsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Alfke
authors.forename: Olav
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Jansen
authors.forename: Herrmann
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zeumer
mesh_terms: D000077284:Abciximab; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000792:Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D017130:Angioplasty; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon / Q000379:methods*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005342:Fibrinolysis; D006470:Hemorrhage; D006801:Humans; D007140:Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007261:Infusions, Intra-Arterial; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015607:Stents; D020521:Stroke / Q000628:therapy*; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy; D013997:Time Factors; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014715:Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007140:Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator; D000077284:Abciximab