title: Potential eligibility for recombinant tissue plasminogen activator therapy in children: a population-based study.
abstract: Intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator is an established therapy for adults with ischemic stroke. In this Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky population-based study, 8% were eligible. However, no established therapy exists for children with acute ischemic stroke. Accordingly, investigators assessed rates of eligibility for recombinant tissue plasminogen activator therapy among children (<18 years of age) in the same population to aid planning of future clinical trials. The investigators identified 29 pediatric ischemic strokes during 3 separate study periods (1993-1994, 1999, and 2005) and determined potential eligibility for recombinant tissue plasminogen activator therapy based on 2007 American Heart Association guidelines for adults. Depending on how relative contraindications were considered, 1 to 3 cases (3%-10%) met eligibility criteria. On the basis of national pediatric stroke incidence rates extrapolated from our population, it is estimated that up to 178 children might be eligible for intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator therapy annually in the United States. Thus, recruitment for clinical studies is likely to be challenging and requires a concerted multicenter effort.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA. Laura.Lehman@cchmc.org
authors.forename: Laura L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Lehman
authors.forename: Dawn O
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Kleindorfer
authors.forename: Jane C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Khoury
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Alwell
authors.forename: Charles J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Moomaw
authors.forename: Brett M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Kissela
authors.forename: Pooja
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Khatri
mesh_terms: D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000150:complications; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D018672:Community Health Planning; D004608:Eligibility Determination; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020521:Stroke / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator