Transcranial ultrasound-improved thrombolysis: diagnostic vs. therapeutic ultrasound

Success of stroke treatment with rt-PA depends on rapid vessel recanalization. Enzymatic thrombolysis may be enhanced by additional transcranial application of ultrasound (US). We investigated this novel technique using a 185-kHz probe and compared it to standard diagnostic US. In vitro studies were performed in a continuous pressure tubing system. Clots were placed in a postmortem skull and treated with rt-PA together with or without transtemporal 185-kHz US insonation (2W/cm(2)) and in comparison to 1-MHz diagnostic US (0.5 W/cm(2)). Recanalization time was significantly (p < 0.01) shorter in the 185-kHz (14.1 min) and 1-MHz (17.1 min) US rt-PA treatment group compared to rt-PA treatment alone (29.3 min.). Flow rate was significantly higher (p < 0.025) and increased faster in the combined treatment group with rt-PA + 185-kHz US compared to rt-PA + 1-MHz US. We investigated the blood-brain barrier in rats after 90-min exposure time of the brain with 185-kHz US, but no damage was observed. Results suggest efficacy and safety of the 185-kHz transducer, which is superior to diagnostic US. Such a novel US probe may be able to optimize thrombolytic stroke treatment.