title: Thrombolysis in anterior versus posterior circulation strokes: timing of recanalization, ischemic tolerance, and other differences.
abstract: Previous studies have suggested a greater ischemic tolerance in posterior circulation as compared to anterior cerebral circulation. We aimed to investigate whether a differential response exists between anterior and posterior circulation strokes. Two hundred and four middle cerebral artery (MCA) patients and 28 basilar artery occlusion (BAO) patients treated with intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator were included. Transcranial Doppler assessed recanalization at different time points. Patients were divided in three groups: total time of ischemia (TTI)<6, 6-24, or>24 hours. We calculated the percentage of recovery (admission National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale [NIHSS]- discharge NIHSS/admission NIHSS)×100. Mean time to treatment was longer in BAO patients (P=.031). Early recanalization was more frequent among MCA occlusions (41% vs 29%; P=.039); the rate of persisting occlusion at 24 hours was similar (P=.933). Clinical recovery according to TTI was similar in each group: <6 hours: BAO 84%/MCA 69%; 6-24 hours: BAO 63%/MCA 61%; >24 hours: BAO -44%/MCA 11% (P=.23). For each hour of ischemia MCA patients worsened 1.78% (P=.035) and BAO 1.76% (P=.421). MCA occlusions compared to BAO were independently associated with hemorrhagic transformation (OR: 8.2; P=.043). Our data do not support the theory of increased ischemic tolerance in posterior circulation. Despite longer time-to-treatment, BAO were more resistant to hemorrhagic transformations.
authors.affiliation: Unitat Neurovascular Vall d'Hebron, Servei de Neurología, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Departament de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. jorge_pagola@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pagola
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ribo
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alvarez-Sabin
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rubiera
authors.forename: Estevo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Santamarina
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Maisterra
authors.forename: Raquel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Delgado-Mederos
authors.forename: Gemma
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ortega
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Quintana
authors.forename: Carlos A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Molina
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001488:Basilar Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020244:Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D020768:Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D020521:Stroke / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D017585:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Transcranial
chemical_list: D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator