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PubMed2001

Initial angiographic appearance of intracranial vascular occlusions in acute stroke as a predictor of outcome of thrombolysis: initial experience.

PURPOSE: To determine whether the initial angiographic morphology and location of intracranial arterial occlusions in acute stroke are reliable predictors of success of thrombolysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-three intracranial occlusions were studied in 32 patients who underwent intraarterial thrombolysis with urokinase within 6 hours from clinical onset of stroke symptoms. The initial angiographic appearance of each occlusion was categorized as cutoff, tapered, meniscus, tram-track, or tandem. Following thrombolysis, outcomes were classified as complete, partial, or no recanalization. RESULTS: Complete recanalization was accomplished in 17 of the 33 lesions, partial recanalization in nine, and no effect in seven. Tram-track (n = 3) and tapered (n = 7) lesions demonstrated the highest rates of at least partial recanalization (100% and 86%, respectively), whereas cutoff lesions (n = 13) demonstrated the lowest rate (69%). Intracranial hemorrhage was associated with higher doses of urokinase. Complete recanalization success rates were 60% for M1 lesions (n = 10), 43% for M2 or A2 lesions (n = 14), and 33% for M3 lesions (n = 3). Vertebrobasilar lesion (n = 5) success rates for complete and at least partial recanalization were 80% and 100%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Relationships were found to exist between the success rate of recanalization and initial angiographic lesion location and morphology, which represent important trends; however, further studies with a larger sample size are needed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Conservative medical treatment and intravenous thrombolysis in acute stroke from carotid T occlusion.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to analyse the course of early recanalization and corresponding functional outcome in patients with an acute occlusion of the carotid T who were treated conservatively or underwent intravenous thrombolysis. METHODS: Forty-two patients with an acute occlusion of the carotid T within 6 h were recruited from consecutive admissions to a neurological department participating in the Duplex Sonography in Acute Stroke study. All patients underwent a standardized admission and follow-up procedure. Colour-coded duplex sonography was performed on admission, 30 min after thrombolysis, and at 6 and 24 h after onset of symptoms. Recanalization of the carotid T was classified as complete, partial and absent. Functional outcome was rated with the modified Rankin scale (mRS) at 3 months as favourable (mRS 0-2) or poor (mRS 3-6). RESULTS: Within 6 h, complete or partial recanalization occurred in 1 of 27 patients treated conservatively and in 6 of 15 thrombolysed patients. Intravenous thrombolysis predicted early recanalization also after adjustment for age, sex, cardioembolic stroke aetiology and time to treatment (adjusted odds ratio, OR, 39.7; 95% confidence interval, CI, 2.0-801.7; p = 0.016). An early recanalization was the only selected predictor of a favourable outcome (OR, 13.6; 95% CI, 1.0-179.0; p = 0.047) at regression analysis, and was achieved in 3 thrombolysed patients but in none with conservative medical treatment. CONCLUSIONS: In patients treated conservatively, functional outcome is poor and early recanalization rarely occurs. The latter can be achieved by intravenous thrombolysis with a rate comparable to that found at an intra-arterial approach without major intracranial bleeding complications. Early recanalization is associated with a better functional outcome.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1998

PROACT: a phase II randomized trial of recombinant pro-urokinase by direct arterial delivery in acute middle cerebral artery stroke. PROACT Investigators. Prolyse in Acute Cerebral Thromboembolism.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To test the safety and recanalization efficacy of intra-arterial local delivery of plasminogen activators in acute ischemic stroke, a randomized trial of recombinant pro-urokinase (rpro-UK) versus placebo was undertaken in patients with angiographically documented proximal middle cerebral artery occlusion. METHODS: After exclusion of intracranial hemorrhage by CT scan, patients with abrupt onset of symptoms of focal ischemia likely to receive treatment within 6 hours who satisfied all clinical eligibility criteria underwent carotid angiography. Patients displaying Thrombolysis in Acute Myocardial Infarction grade 0 or 1 occlusion of the M1 or M2 middle cerebral artery were randomized 2:1 to receive rpro-UK (6 mg) or placebo over 120 minutes into the proximal thrombus face. All patients received intravenous heparin. Recanalization efficacy was assessed at the end of the 2-hour infusion, and intracerebral hemorrhage causing neurological deterioration was assessed at 24 hours. RESULTS: Of 105 patients who underwent angiography, 59 were excluded from randomization. Among the 46 patients randomized, 40 were treated with rpro-UK (n=26) or placebo (n=14) a median of 5.5 hours from symptom onset. Recanalization was significantly associated with rpro-UK (2P=.017). Hemorrhagic transformation causing neurological deterioration within 24 hours of treatment occurred in 15.4% of the rpro-UK-treated patients and 7.1% of the placebo-treated patients (2P=.64). Both recanalization and hemorrhage frequencies were influenced by heparin dose. CONCLUSIONS: Intra-arterial local rpro-UK infusion was associated with superior recanalization in acute thrombotic/ thromboembolic stroke compared with placebo. In this regimen, heparin dose influenced hemorrhage frequency and recanalization. Although symptomatic hemorrhage remains a concern, this study suggests that recanalization is enhanced with rpro-UK and heparin.

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Fate of great saphenous vein after radio-frequency ablation: detailed ultrasound imaging.

Radio-frequency ablation (RFA) of the great saphenous vein (GSV) is an endovascular alternative to stripping. To determine long-term effectiveness, the fate of GSV treated for valvular insufficiency with RFA was evaluated in detail with ultrasound imaging (US). One hundred lower extremities were examined with high-resolution color flow US, an average of 8 months after RFA treatment of an incompetent GSV. For every cm of the RFA-treated segment, the US observation was classified as follows: absent, occluded, or recanalized. Lengths of vein segments in each class were added and percentages of absent, occluded, or recanalized segments were calculated. Five groups were identified. Group I (n = 15): segment of treated GSV was absent. Group II (n = 4): segment of treated GSV was visualized and occluded (these vein segments had no flow and were shrunk and "fibrotic" or thrombosed without clear evidence of significant shrinkage). Group III (n = 1): segment of treated GSV was recanalized. Group IV (n = 27): segment of treated GSV was obstructed (absent or occluded). Group V (n = 53): segment of treated GSV was partially recanalized, on average being 53% absent, 32% occluded, and 15% recanalized. Maximum recanalization was 50% of treated segment. RFA was successful in obliterating all of the GSV treated segment in 46% of veins (groups I, 15%, plus II, 4%, plus IV, 27%) and obliterated more than half of the treated vein segment in 53% of the cases (group V). A dynamic process of recanalization and thrombosis warrants further evaluation to determine if and how a collateral network may develop.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Does acute occlusion of the carotid T invariably have a poor outcome?

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prognosis of patients with acute occlusion of the carotid T. METHODS: The authors studied 42 consecutive patients with acute carotid T occlusion, age 66 (59 to 74) years (median [interquartile range]). T occlusion was diagnosed with transcranial Doppler sonography (TCD; n = 11) and MR (n = 28) or CT (n = 3) angiography. Final infarction size was evaluated on follow-up CT 3 to 7 days after symptom onset and recanalization by follow-up TCD 24 to 36 hours after symptom onset. RESULTS: NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score on admission was 18 (16 to 20). Final infarct size was one-third or less of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) territory in 11, greater than one-third but less than or equal to two-thirds of the MCA territory in 10, and greater than two-thirds of the MCA territory in 21 patients. Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score 6 months after stroke onset was 2 in 7 (17%), 3 in 2 (5%), 4 in 13 (31%), 5 in 7 (17%), and 6 in 13 (31%) patients. Complete or partial MCA recanalization within 24 hours after symptom onset was observed in 12 of 18 patients treated with thrombolysis and 4 of the remaining 24 patients (p = 0.001) and was associated with better clinical outcome (mRS 2, recanalization 6/7 [86%]; mRS 3 to 5, recanalization 8/22 [36%]; mRS 6, recanalization 2/13 [15%]; p = 0.01). Recanalization and NIHSS score on admission were independent predictors of outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Acute carotid T occlusion does not necessarily carry a poor prognosis. IV thrombolysis frequently results in recanalization, which is related to a better clinical outcome and smaller final infarction size.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2002

Optimal time for predicting left ventricular remodeling after successful primary coronary angioplasty in acute myocardial infarction using serial myocardial contrast echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging.

The objective of this study was to determine the optimal time to assess microvascular integrity within the risk area for myocardial infarction in order to predict unfavorable left ventricular remodeling (LVR) after successful primary coronary angioplasty. Fifty-three patients who underwent myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) just before recanalization, shortly after and 1 day (Day 2) and 3 weeks after recanalization were studied. The no- and low-reflow ratio (LR ratio) was analyzed at each stage. The wall-thinning ratio within the risk area was determined using magnetic resonance imaging performed 3-4 weeks after the recanalization. Thirteen of the 53 patients showed LVR 3-8 months after recanalization. The optimal time to predict LVR was found to be Day 2 based on the receiver operating characteristic curves. The LR ratio on Day 2 (chi2=7.39, p=0.007) and the collateral circulation before recanalization (chi2=4.57, p=0.03) were chosen as independent variables for predicting LVR. Patients with greater than 0.43 in the LR ratio on Day 2 showed a lower wall-thinning ratio (58+/-19% vs 72+/-20%, p=0.05). This study shows that the optimal time to estimate the microvascular integrity for predicting LVR is 1 day after recanalization, which is neither shortly after recanalization nor during the convalescent stage.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Infarct size and the protection of ischemic myocardium in pig, dog and human.

To define whether recanalization after occlusion can reduce the myocardial infarct size, we compared the infarct size in 25 pig hearts without collateral circulation, 35 dog hearts with collateral circulation and 11 human autopsied hearts with coronary thrombolysis at 2 to 6 hours after the onset of acute myocardial infarction. The data showed that % infarct size in the risk area increased according to the duration of occlusion. In the pig, % infarct size was 80 +/- 9% in the recanalization after 1 hour occlusion and 96 +/- 2% in the recanalization after 2 hour occlusion. There was no significant difference between these and the permanent occlusion group (95 +/- 3%). In the dog, % infarct size was 35 +/- 31% in the recanalization after 4 hour occlusion and 59 +/- 27% in the permanent occlusion group. In human autopsied hearts, the infarct size was the same between the recanalization group (82 +/- 6%) and the permanent occlusion group (80 +/- 11%). The % infarct size in the recanalization groups was less than or the same as that in the hearts with permanent occlusion in dog, pig and human. Thus, it is concluded that, to reduce conclusively the infarct size, recanalization should be done within 1 hour after the occlusion in the hearts without collateral circulation and within 4 hours in the hearts with collateral circulation. So called reperfusion injury which means the greater expansion of the % infarct size than that in the permanent occlusion is not present.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Natural history of the neck remnant of a cerebral aneurysm treated with the Guglielmi detachable coil system.

OBJECT: The long-term durability of Guglielmi detachable coil (GDC) embolization of cerebral aneurysms is still unknown. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the anatomical evolution of neck remnants in aneurysms treated with GDCs. METHODS: Of 455 aneurysms treated with GDCs from 1990 to 1998 at the University of California at Los Angeles Medical Center, 178 aneurysms (39%) had residual necks postembolization. Long-term follow-up angiograms were obtained in 73 of these aneurysms in 71 patients. The mean duration of angiographic follow up was 17.3 months. Twenty-four of the aneurysms were small with small necks, 24 were small with wide necks, 15 were large, and 10 were giant aneurysms. In small aneurysms with small necks, postembolization angiography revealed 12 aneurysms (50%) with progressive thrombosis, eight (33%) unchanged, and four (17%) with recanalization. In small aneurysms with wide necks, six (25%) had progressive thrombosis, eight (33%) remained unchanged, and 10 (42%) had recanalization. In large aneurysms, two (13%) were unchanged and 13 (87%) had recanalization. Of the giant aneurysms only one (10%) remained unchanged and nine (90%) had recanalization. Overall, 18 aneurysms (25%) exhibited progressive thrombosis, 19 (26%) remained unchanged, and 36 (49%) displayed recanalization on follow-up angiography. During the last 2 years of the study, the recanalization rate decreased and a higher rate of progressive thrombosis was noted in aneurysms with small necks. These positive changes are related to important new technical developments. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with GDCs appears to be effective and the results permanent in most small aneurysms with small necks. However, there are important technical limitations in the current GDC technology that prevent recanalization in wide-necked or large or giant aneurysms.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

[Serial assessment of right ventricular function in the acute and convalescent stages after successful reperfusion: relationship to infarct-related coronary artery].

OBJECTIVES: To elucidate the relationship between the infarct-related coronary artery and the right ventricular function before and after successful recanalization. METHODS: Hemodynamics and right ventricular function were measured using a REF-1 thermodilution catheter before and shortly after recanalization and during the convalescent stage in 35 patients, 17 with anteroseptal and 18 with inferior acute myocardial infarction. RESULTS: Pulmonary arterial pressure significantly decreased in both anteroseptal and inferior myocardial infarction patients after recanalization. Right ventricular volume index in patients with anteroseptal myocardial infarction increased after recanalization, but again decreased during convalescence. The right ventricle became enlarged in patients with inferior myocardial infarction to maintain the right ventricular stroke volume constant. Right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) did not significantly change in patients with inferior myocardial infarction during convalescence (38 +/- 13%, 38 +/- 13%, 46 +/- 9%), whereas RVEF in patients with anteroseptal myocardial infarction temporarily decreased after recanalization, and then increased during convalescence (37 +/- 10%, 31 +/- 12%, 41 +/- 7%). Patients with inferior myocardial infarction were divided into two groups, patients with increased RVEF (n = 6) and decreased RVEF (n = 12) shortly after recanalization. Patients with increased RVEF showed significantly improved RVEF during convalescence (49 +/- 7% vs 37 +/- 6%, p < 0.05). The increase in RVEF shortly after recanalization in patients with inferior myocardial infarction was an independent factor for predicting RVEF during convalescence. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with anteroseptal myocardial infarction showed a different pattern of change in the right ventricular function during the acute and convalescent stages. An early change in RVEF in patients with inferior myocardial infarction can predict RVEF in the convalescent stage.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Short-term outcome of intracranial aneurysms treated with polyglycolic acid/lactide copolymer-coated coils compared to historical controls treated with bare platinum coils: a single-center experience.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Aneurysm recanalization is an innate problem in endovascular treatment of aneurysms with coils. A coated coil system, covered with a bioabsorbable polymeric material (polyglycolic acid/lactide copolymer, PGLA), was developed to accelerate intra-aneurysmal clot organization and fibrosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the PGLA-coated coils in patients with intracranial aneurysms and to compare the outcome with that of bare platinum coils. PATIENTS AND TECHNIQUES: Fifty-one patients harboring 56 intracranial aneurysms underwent endovascular embolization with the PGLA-coated coils. In the control group were 78 consecutive patients, harboring 87 aneurysms, who underwent coil embolization with bare platinum coils. The authors compared coil volume, packing attenuation, degree of occlusion of aneurysms, procedure-related complications, and follow-up results between the 2 groups. RESULTS: The PGLA-coil group showed comparable data regarding rate of total or near-total occlusion of the aneurysm, incidence procedure-related thromboembolism, and management outcome. Mean coil volume deployed and packing attenuation of the PGLA-coil group were significantly higher than those of the bare-coil group (P = .0026 and P < .0001, respectively). Radiologic follow-up evaluation revealed recanalization in 14 of 39 aneurysms (major recanalization in 5 [13%] and minor recanalization in 9 [23%]) among the PGLA-coil group and in 29 of 64 aneurysms (major recanalization in 9 [14%] and minor recanalization in 20 [31%]) among the bare-coil group. CONCLUSION: In this study, the incidence of recanalization was not different in aneurysms treated with PGLA-coated coils compared with historical controls treated with bare platinum coils.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

[Dynamic pathophysiology of cerebral infarction and revascularization. III. Changes of regional cerebral blood flow].

Thirty-eight patients with occlusive cerebrovascular disease were followed with regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) measurement, angiography and computerized tomography (CT) to know the time course of rCBF in cerebral infarction. The rCBF study was carried out by the 133Xe intracarotid injection method with 16 scintillation detectors. They were allocated to two groups according to the findings on angiograms; 15 patients having any change of occlusive lesion (the group of no-recanalization ) and 23 patients showing reopening of occluded vessels (the group of recanalization). A mass sign and an extent of cerebral infarction were observed on CT. In the group of no-recanalization, a mean value of rCBF (mean rCBF) in acute stage was well correlated to the severity of ischemic stroke. In minor completed strokes the average mean rCBF was 35.8 +/- 3.7 ml/100g/min, which is significantly higher than that in major strokes and progressing strokes of 24.8 +/- 3.9 ml/100 g/min (p less than 0.001). Sequential change of mean rCBF was not prominent in the group of no-recanalization. However, rCBF change was conspicuous in the group of recanalization. In acute stage of recanalization, rCBF were markedly affected by the presence of mass sign (cerebral edema) on CT. When CT showed midline shift of structure, mean rCBF was markedly reduced, and when without midline shift, focal hyperemic areas were sometimes observed in the revascularized area. Thus, the inhomogeneity of rCBF was characteristic in cases with recanalization. The focal hyperemia usually disappeared within one week in cases of minor stroke and lasted until 2 or 3 weeks in cases of major stroke. In chronic stage, mean rCBF decreased, and there was no significant difference of averaged rCBF between two groups. Those findings suggests that the main factor influenced on the sequential change of rCBF is reopening of occluded vessels. Regional CBF may depends both on the degree of cerebral edema and the extent of vasoparesis after revascularization. In chronic stage CBF value is not always dependent to the presence of occlusive lesion but might be reflected in the total brain function.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Rotational atherectomy for treatment of occluded prosthetic grafts.

Potentially, percutaneous rotational atherectomy (RA) can be used to open occluded prosthetic arterial bypass grafts with less morbidity than surgical catheter thrombectomy. However, RA could damage prosthetic grafts or produce significant distal emboli. To investigate this, acutely thrombosed and chronically occluded prosthetic grafts, harvested from dogs, were placed in an ex vivo perfusion system and recanalization was attempted using the TRAC-Wright rotational atherectomy system. Urokinase (UK) was delivered through the RA catheter in one-half of the procedures. Graft surface thrombogenicity and graft mechanical integrity after successful recanalization were determined and debris released during recanalization was collected. Results were compared to those from grafts opened by catheter thrombectomy. One hundred percent (22/22) of acute prosthetic graft occlusions and 39% (16/41) of chronic prosthetic graft occlusions were opened using RA, similar to results achieved using catheter thrombectomy. In addition, surface thrombogenicity after recanalization of acute graft occlusion with RA was lower than that after catheter thrombectomy (P < 0.05) and infusion of UK improved RA success in chronically occluded grafts (52% vs 25%). Debris generated during RA averaged 15-18 micrograms, equivalent to debris generated during catheter thrombectomy, and graft mechanical integrity was unaffected by recanalization using RA. Thus, rotational atherectomy is a minimally invasive means of safe and effective prosthetic graft recanalization that produces a less thrombogenic graft than thrombectomy.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Treatment of myocardial infarction with intracoronary streptokinase: efficacy and safety data from 209 United States cases in the Hoechst-Roussel registry.

Efficacy and safety data from 209 U.S. cases in the Hoechst-Roussel intracoronary streptokinase (STK) registry were analyzed. Successful recanalization was achieved in 76% of infarct-related occluded coronary arteries. Postinfarction complications (i.e., malignant arrhythmia, heart block, and pump failure) were substantially less frequent after successful recanalization compared to the recanalization failures. Cardiac in-hospital mortality was 2.5% in the recanalized group and 18% in the group in which recanalization failed. Several severe hemorrhagic complications occurred in patients who were heparinized. The data suggest that myocardial reperfusion following STK coronary recanalization during evolving myocardial infarction may salvage myocardium. Except for excessive bleeding associated generally with heparinization, side effects and adverse reactions were readily controlled.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Necropsy evaluation in seven patients with evolving acute myocardial infarction treated with thrombolytic therapy.

Systemic and intracoronary streptokinase application may recanalize a coronary artery occluded by a thrombus in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI). However, thrombolysis fails in a number of patients for unknown reasons. The coronary and myocardial histologic characteristics were studied in 3 patients in whom recanalization was successful without subsequent reocclusion, and in 4 patients in whom recanalization was unsuccessful. All patients died within 4 weeks after the acute intervention. Serial sections from the angiographically localized occlusive site of the infarct vessel, and transverse slices of the heart stained with nitroblue tetrazolium for delineation of MI, were examined by light microscopy. Successfully recanalized arteries were patent at necropsy and showed obstructive fibrous atherosclerotic plaques. Among patients in whom recanalization was unsuccessful, 1 patient had occlusions from nonatherosclerotic intramural hemorrhage and 1 from persisting long, mixed old and fresh thrombus, and 2 patients had high-grade obstructions from ruptured atherosclerotic plaques with intimal hemorrhage and residual clot. Reperfused infarct tissue consisted predominantly of contraction band necroses, whereas MIs without reperfusion showed coagulation necroses of the muscle fibers. The results suggest that the success of recanalization depends, in part, on the morphologic features of the coronary occlusion, and that reperfusion after successful thrombolysis may lead to a different pattern of muscle fiber necrosis in the irreversibly injured infarct areas.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Reliability of resolution of ST-segment elevation after coronary reperfusion in predicting myocardial salvage in anterior wall acute myocardial infarction.

Resolution of ST-segment elevation (ST resolution) after reperfusion therapy has been shown to correlate with improved left ventricular (LV) function in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, not all patients with ST resolution have preserved LV function. We evaluated the clinical significance of ST resolution in 129 patients with anterior wall AMI who underwent successful coronary recanalization within 6 hours after symptom onset by studying the relation to myocardial blush grade, another angiographic marker of myocardial reperfusion. A reduction of > or =50% in ST-segment elevation after recanalization was defined as ST resolution. Ninety-eight patients had ST resolution and 31 patients did not. Patients with ST resolution were subdivided into 2 groups according to myocardial blush grade after recanalization: 67 patients with blush grade 2 or 3, and 31 with blush grade 0 or 1. The QRS score after recanalization was higher (5.9 +/- 1.9 vs 3.4 +/- 2.0, p <0.01) and predischarge LV ejection fraction was lower (39 +/- 8% vs 57 +/- 9%, p <0.01) in patients with blush grade 0 or 1 than in those with blush grade 2 or 3. However, the QRS score after recanalization and the predischarge LV ejection fraction were similar in patients who had ST resolution with blush grade 0 or 1 and in those without ST resolution. Our findings suggest that ST resolution after recanalization does not consistently predict myocardial salvage in patients with anterior AMI.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Local intraarterial urokinase thrombolysis of acute ischemic stroke with or without intravenous abciximab: a pilot study.

PURPOSE: One of the most important prognostic factors in the thrombolytic treatment of acute ischemic stroke is the time to recanalization. To shorten the recanalization time, an antiplatelet agent, abciximab (platelet glycoprotein receptor IIb/IIIa antagonist), was administered intravenously before the initiation of local intraarterial urokinase thrombolysis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of this combined therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 26 patients with acute ischemic stroke (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score >10) were enrolled in this study. In the earlier phase of this study, conventional local intraarterial urokinase thrombolysis was performed in 16 patients (urokinase group). In the later phase, combined use of intravenous abciximab and local intraarterial urokinase thrombolysis was performed in 10 patients (urokinase + abciximab group). Recanalization rate (Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction grade >or=2), total amount of urokinase used, incidence of symptomatic hemorrhage, and better functional outcome rate (modified Rankin scale <or=2) were compared between the two groups with use of the Fisher exact test or Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: The recanalization rate in the urokinase + abciximab group (90%, nine of 10) was significantly higher than that in the urokinase group (43.8%, seven of 16) (P =.037). The mean amount of urokinase required for recanalization was significantly lower in the urokinase + abciximab group (828,000 IU vs 418,000 IU; P <.005). As for the incidence of symptomatic hemorrhage, no significant difference was noted between the two groups (four of 16 vs three of 10) (P = 1.0). The urokinase + abciximab group showed a trend of better functional outcome (50% vs 80%; P =.2). CONCLUSIONS: Combined therapy employing intravenous abciximab and local intraarterial urokinase thrombolysis showed a marked improvement in recanalization rate and showed a trend of better functional outcome. The safety of this regimen still remains to be justified with modification of the indication and regimen dosage.

Abciximab↗
PubMed1995

Thrombolysis in ischaemic stroke--how far from a clinical breakthrough?

Thromboembolic occlusions of the cerebral arteries often recanalize spontaneously, and patients with early recanalization have a better outcome than patients who do not recanalize. Clinical as well as experimental data support the concept of a time window within which brain tissue will profit from restoration of blood flow. In occlusion of middle cerebral artery, internal carotid artery, as well as vertebrobasilar arteries, open studies of intra-arterial administration of thrombolytic agents have demonstrated recanalization within hours in 40-100% of patients in small series. In intravenous drug administration, recanalization rate was obtained in 34-59% of patients. Favourable outcome was associated with recanalization. Intracerebral bleeding complications with clinical deterioration occurred in about 10% of patients. Three randomized controlled trials comprising 156 patients with acute ischaemic stroke have reported favourable outcome in treated patients, with no difference of intracerebral haemorrhagic complications between treated and controls. Results of ongoing randomized placebo controlled trials are expected in 1995 to disclose whether a clinical breakthrough is achieved or whether haemorrhagic complications will outweigh a beneficial effect of thrombolytic therapy in acute cerebral ischaemia.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Intravenous tissue plasminogen activator and flow improvement in acute ischemic stroke patients with internal carotid artery occlusion.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: It has been suggested that intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) would not lyse the large thrombus associated with internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion and, therefore, would be ineffective in this setting. Vascular imaging, safety, and outcome of TPA therapy for ICA occlusion is not well described. Our goal was to determine the site of occlusion, early recanalization after TPA infusion, and its relationship to outcome. METHODS: We reviewed our database of all stroke patients treated with i.v. TPA between July 1997 and July 1999. We identified all cases with carotid occlusion suggested by transcranial Doppler (TCD) and angiography. Occlusion and recanalization were assessed by site including proximal ICA (prICA), terminal ICA (tICA), and middle cerebral artery (MCA). Baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores and follow-up Rankin scores were obtained. RESULTS: We treated 20 patients with carotid occlusion (age 63.9 +/- 10.8 years, 11 males, 9 females). Time to TPA infusion after stroke onset was 128 +/- 66 minutes. Baseline NIHSS scores were 16.4 +/- 5.4. Time to follow-up was 3.5 +/- 4.9 months (2 patients were lost to follow-up). Occlusion sites were prICA 40%, tICA 70%, and concurrent MCA 45%. Multiple sites were involved in 10/20 patients (50%). Among patients with pretreatment and posttreatment vascular imaging studies (n = 18), recanalization in the prICA and tICA was complete in 10%, partial in 16%, and none in 74%. MCA recanalization was complete in 35%, partial in 24%, and none in 41%. At follow-up, Rankin 0-1 was found in 8 patients (44%), Rankin 2-3 in 3 (17%), and Rankin 4-5 in 3 (17%). Mortality was 22% (n = 4) including 1 fatal intracerebral hemorrhage. Improvement was closely related to resumption of MCA flow (P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: Most patients did not recanalize their ICA occlusion after intravenous TPA therapy. However, recanalization of associated proximal MCA clot, found in 45% of our patients, or improved MCA collateral flow was strongly associated with good outcome.

Acute Disease↗