title: Elderly patients are at higher risk for poor outcomes after intra-arterial therapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Conflicting data exist regarding outcomes after intra-arterial therapy (IAT) in elderly stroke patients. We compare safety and clinical outcomes of multimodal IAT in elderly versus nonelderly patients and investigate differences in baseline health and disability as possible explanatory factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from a prospectively collected institutional IAT database were analyzed comparing elderly (80 years or older) versus nonelderly patients. Baseline demographics, angiographic reperfusion (Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction scale score 2-3), rate of parenchymal hematoma type 2, and 90-day modified Rankin Scale scores were compared in univariate and multivariate analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 49 elderly and 130 nonelderly patients treated between 2005 and 2010. Between the 2 cohorts, there was no significant difference in Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction 2 to 3 reperfusion (71% vs 75%; P=0.57), time to reperfusion (P=0.77), or rate of parenchymal hematoma type 2 (4% vs 7%; P=0.73) after IAT. However, elderly patients had significantly lower rates of good outcome (modified Rankin Scale score 0-2: 2% vs 33%; P<0.0001) and higher mortality (59% vs 24%; P<0.0001) at 90 days. Atrial fibrillation, coronary artery disease, hypertension, hyperlipidema, and baseline disability were significantly more common in elderly patients. Adjusting for baseline disability, stroke severity, and reperfusion, elderly patients were 29-times more likely to be dependent or dead at 90 days (odds ratio, 28.7; 95% confidence interval, 3.2-255.7; P=0.003).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite comparable rates of reperfusion and significant hemorrhage, elderly patients had worse clinical outcomes after IAT, which may relate, in part, to worse baseline health and disability. The use of IAT in the elderly should be performed after a careful analysis of the potential risks and benefits.
authors: Department of Radiology, Divisions of Interventional, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA. ajyoo@partners.org
authors: Ronil V
authors: RV
authors: Chandra
authors: Thabele M
authors: TM
authors: Leslie-Mazwi
authors: Daniel C
authors: DC
authors: Oh
authors: Zeshan A
authors: ZA
authors: Chaudhry
authors: Brijesh P
authors: BP
authors: Mehta
authors: Natalia S
authors: NS
authors: Rost
authors: James D
authors: JD
authors: Rabinov
authors: Joshua A
authors: JA
authors: Hirsch
authors: R Gilberto
authors: RG
authors: González
authors: Lee H
authors: LH
authors: Schwamm
authors: Albert J
authors: AJ
authors: Yoo
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D057510:Endovascular Procedures; D023381:Endpoint Determination; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007269:Injections, Intra-Arterial; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015424:Reperfusion; D012306:Risk; D015607:Stents; D020521:Stroke / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator