Thrombolysis for acute ischemic stroke.
In the last decennium, thrombolytic therapy has changed the management of acute ischemic stroke. Randomized clinical studies have demonstrated that intravenous thrombolysis with tissue plasminogen activator improves functional outcomes. Recently the time window for intravenous thrombolysis has been extended from 3 to 4.5 hours after stroke onset, which will allow more stroke patients to benefit from this treatment. Currently several studies are investigating how to improve recanalization rates of thrombolytic therapy. In this review several aspects of intravenous and intra-arterial thrombolysis are discussed.
Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, the Netherlands. m.uyttenboogaart@neuro.umcg.nl
M
M
Uyttenboogaart
J
J
De Keyser
G J
GJ
Luijckx
D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005342:Fibrinolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D020521:Stroke / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator