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Updated: May 26, 2026

Prehospital Thrombolysis: A Manual from Berlin
Published on: November 26, 2013
Subacute seizure incidence in thrombolysis-treated ischemic stroke patients
P Couillard1, M A Almekhlafi, A Irvine
1Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Foothills Medical Centre, 1403 29th Street NW, Calgary, AB T2N 2T9, Canada. Philippe.couillard@albertahealthservices.ca
Background:
To assess the incidence of seizures in acute ischemic stroke patients treated with chemical (tPA) thrombolysis.
Methods:
Retrospective study including all thrombolysis patients treated in Calgary between January 1, 2001, and October 31, 2006. Descriptive statistics and age/sex-adjusted P values were calculated.
Results:
Of 400 eligible patients (median age 74.0 years, range: 24-77), 16 (4%) developed post-stroke seizures: 10 (62.5%) within one week (early) and 6 (37.5%) after 1 week but within the hospital stay (late). Single-vessel anterior circulation involvement (93.8% vs. 87%, P = 0.34) and hemorrhage (37.5% vs. 20%, P = 0.15) were more common in those with compared to without seizures but did not reach statistical significance. Atrial fibrillation was more common in those with (56.3%) than without (36.1%) seizures (P = 0.04). Death during admission was more likely (P = 0.03) in those who sustained seizures (37.5%) compared to those without seizures (17.6%).
Conclusions:
In this cohort of tPA-treated patients, post-stroke seizures were associated with atrial fibrillation and early mortality.
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