Intravenous thrombolysis is more effective in ischemic cardioembolic strokes than in non-cardioembolic?
It was suggested that intravenous thrombolysis (IT) leads to larger extent recanalization in cardioembolic stroke. In this work we assess if this has beneficial clinical traduction.


METHODS
We evaluated 177 patients undergoing IT, which were categorized into cardioembolic (CE) and non-cardioembolic (NCE). National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and modified Rankin scale were compared.


RESULTS
The mean age was 67.4 ± 12.01 and 53.8% were male. The mean NIHSS was: 14 (admission), 9 (24 h) and 6 (discharge), similar in subgroups. The difference between NIHSS at admission and 24 hours was 4.17 ± 4.92 (CE: 4.08 ± 4.71; NCE: 4.27 ± 5.17, p=0.900) and at admission and discharge there was an average difference of 6.74 ± 5.58 (CE: 6.97 ± 5.68; NCE: 6.49 ± 5.49, p=0.622). The mRS at discharge and 3 months was not significantly different by subtype, although individuals whose event was NCE are more independent at 3 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Ours findings argue against a specific paper of IT in CE. It can result from heterogeneity of NCE group.
Neurology Department, Braga Hospital, Portugal. sofiar@ufp.edu.pt
Sofia
S
Rocha
Arnaldo
A
Pires
Joana
J
Gomes
João
J
Rocha
Filipa
F
Sousa
João
J
Pinho
Margarida
M
Rodrigues
Carla
C
Ferreira
Alvaro
A
Machado
Ricardo
R
Maré
João Ramalho
JR
Fontes
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020521:Stroke / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome