title: Co-morbid conditions in use of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) for the treatment of acute ischaemic stroke.
abstract: The objective of this study was to characterize the comorbidities in a population of patients with an acute ischaemic stroke, comparing patients that received recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) to those that did not receive rt-PA.
  
  
  
  In a retrospective sample of 663 patients admitted for acute ischaemic stroke, this study analysed the effects of co-morbid conditions in the use of rt-PA. It determined non-cerebrovascular risk factors (comorbidities) that differentiate patients who received rt-PA from those who did not receive rt-PA.
  
  
  
  Patients with a history of carotid stenosis, CHF and previous strokes are significantly (p < 0.05) associated with high risk of not receiving rt-PA. A significant number of patients with a history of hypertension and smoking received rt-PA (p < 0.05).
  
  
  
  The findings indicate that certain risk factors including carotid stenosis, CHF and previous stroke history impact the treatment of patients with acute ischaemic stroke, specifically the decision to administer rt-PA. Treatment with rt-PA is dependent on stroke severity and onset to treatment time, but the findings suggest that rt-PA use may also depend on patient comorbidities.
authors.affiliation: a University of South Carolina School of Medicine , SC , USA.
authors.forename: Thomas I
authors.initials: TI
authors.lastname: Nathaniel
authors.affiliation: a University of South Carolina School of Medicine , SC , USA.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cochran
authors.affiliation: a University of South Carolina School of Medicine , SC , USA.
authors.forename: Jose
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chaves
authors.affiliation: a University of South Carolina School of Medicine , SC , USA.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fulmer
authors.affiliation: a University of South Carolina School of Medicine , SC , USA.
authors.forename: Crystal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sosa
authors.affiliation: a University of South Carolina School of Medicine , SC , USA.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.affiliation: a University of South Carolina School of Medicine , SC , USA.
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fredwall
authors.affiliation: b Greenville Health System , SC , USA.
authors.forename: Shannon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sternberg
authors.affiliation: b Greenville Health System , SC , USA.
authors.forename: Dawn
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Blackhurst
authors.affiliation: b Greenville Health System , SC , USA.
authors.forename: Alfred
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.affiliation: b Greenville Health System , SC , USA.
authors.forename: Rodney
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Leacock
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator
keywords: Comorbidity; hypertension; recombinant tissue plasminogen activator; stroke