title: Safety of tirofiban for patients with acute ischemic stroke in routine clinical practice.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to investigate the safety of tirofiban alone and in combination with various treatments in acute ischemic stroke (AIS). A total of 120 patients with AIS were included in the study, and these patients were divided into three treatment groups: Group A (tirofiban alone, n=68), group B (tirofiban plus thrombolytic therapy, n=26), and group C (tirofiban as a 'bridging therapy', n=26). Risk factors, stroke severity, initial imaging, treatment regimens, complications and long-term outcomes were analyzed. In total, eight patients (6.7%) [six patients (23.1%) in group B and two patients (7.7%) in group C] had hemorrhage during or subsequent to treatment. Sixteen patients (six in group A, eight in group B and two in group C) succumbed during the hospital admission period. The mortality rate was 13.3% (8.8% for group A, 30.7% for group B and 7.7% for group C) in the acute phase. A favorable outcome (modified Rankin Scale score, 0-2) in the first three months after stroke was only observed in 43.3% of patients (44.1% in group A, 46.7% in group B and 36.4% in group C). The mean Barthel index was 72.3 in group A, 84.4 in group B and 56.8 in group C (total patient population, 71.0). The results of the present study have shown that stroke treatment with tirofiban is safe in AIS. A large randomized controlled trial in the future is required to decrease the incidence of the minor bleeding complications associated with tirofiban therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Liuzhou Worker's Hospital, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Liuzhou, Guangyi 545005, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yuan-Qun
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou, Zhengzhou, Henan 450003, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yan-Jun
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency, Liuzhou Worker's Hospital, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Liuzhou, Guangxi 545005, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Hai-Lin
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Ruan
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou, Zhengzhou, Henan 450003, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou, Zhengzhou, Henan 450003, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Qin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhan
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou, Zhengzhou, Henan 450003, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Qiong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
keywords: acute ischemic stroke; safety; tirofiban