title: Administration of intravenous tissue plasminogen activator in a pediatric patient with acute ischemic stroke.
abstract: Intravenous tissue plasminogen activator is the only therapy approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of acute ischemic strokes. The National Institutes of Health (NIH)-sponsored study that led to the approval of tissue plasminogen activator to be used in acute ischemic strokes included only individuals 18 years of age and older. We report a case of a pediatric patient who suffered a dominant-hemisphere acute ischemic stroke who was treated with intravenous tissue plasminogen activator. Our patient's symptoms began to resolve 4 hours after treatment, and he had a complete recovery after 8 hours. The clinical outcome was excellent and without complications. Tissue plasminogen activator administration can be safe and effective in younger patients. Randomized, controlled, double-blind studies are needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of South Alabama, College of Medicine, Mobile 36693, USA. M_Shuayto_MD@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Marwan I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Shuayto
authors.forename: J Ivan
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Lopez
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Greiner
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D020521:Stroke / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator