title: Successful intravenous thrombolysis in ischemic stroke caused by infective endocarditis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Infective endocarditis can lead to serious neurological complications including ischemic stroke and intracranial hemorrhage. Treatment with intravenous thrombolysis within 3 h of symptom onset has become the standard of care in acute ischemic stroke, but the safety and efficacy of this intervention in patients with infective endocarditis is unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report the case of a patient with ischemic stroke who experienced substantial neurological improvement after being treated with intravenous thrombolysis (NIH stroke scale score of 15 on admission and 4 after treatment) and was subsequently found to have acute infective mitral endocarditis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Favorable response to thrombolysis may occur in patients with stroke due to infectious endocarditis. The safety of this therapy remains to be established.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, 200 First Street SW, Mayo W8B, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
authors.forename: Mithri
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Junna
authors.forename: Chang-Ching D
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Raul E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Espinosa
authors.forename: Alejandro A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Rabinstein
mesh_terms: D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000150:complications; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000150:complications; D020521:Stroke / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator