Systemic thrombolysis with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator in acute ischemic stroke: first Croatian experiences.
In September 2003, recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) for acute treatment of ischemic stroke was finally approved by the Croatian Ministry of Health. For the next 5 years, only three stroke units in the country implemented this therapy in their routine practice until summer 2008, when neurological wards in most Croatian hospitals started to treat acute stroke patients with systemic thrombolysis. We present a 2-year experience of thrombolytic therapy (2006-2008) in the stroke unit of the University Hospital in Zagreb, Croatian largest hospital, serving nearly one-fifth of the citizens of Croatia. Obtained data (vitals at admission and before administration of rt-PA; NIHSS and MRS scores at admission, 2 h and 7th day after rt-PA treatment, "time to door" and "door to needle" intervals, duration of hospital treatment as well as outcomes and complications of our 66 thrombolysed patients) are presented and discussed. We also present our results regarding benefits of this therapy as well as possible reasons for complications noticed.
Department of Neurology, University Hospital Center Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
Vesna
V
Matijević
Domagoj
D
Alvir
Branko
B
Malojčić
Lea
L
Unušić
Svjetlana
S
Supe
Marina
M
Boban
Andrea
A
Bujan-Kovač
Mario
M
Habek
Zdravka
Z
Poljaković
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality; D017523:Croatia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000235:genetics; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020521:Stroke / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy / Q000379:methods / Q000401:mortality; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000235:genetics; D055815:Young Adult
D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator