Thrombolysis on ischemic stroke patients with decreased level of consciousness within 4.5 h

Few reports concerned on recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) treatment in stroke patients with decreased consciousness. This study assesses the efficacy and safety of intravenous rt-PA administration within 4.5 h in stroke patients with decreased consciousness.

A total of 136 stroke patients with decreased consciousness, who received or not rt-PA intravenously within 4.5 h after stroke onset from Jiangsu province of China from 2009 to 2012, were reviewed retrospectively. Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), intracranial hemorrhage rate, and mortality were used to determine patient outcome when discharged. A 3-month outcome was calculated by modified Rankin Scale (mRS) with score 0 to 1 considered favorable outcome.

Baseline characteristics of two groups were similar. When discharged, no significant differences were observed regarding NIHSS score (P = 0.994) or GCS score (P = 0.591) between groups. After 3 months, 22.8% patients in rt-PA group had favorable outcome as compared with 7.5% patients in control group (P = 0.014). Treatment with rt-PA did not significantly increase incidence of hemorrhage (P = 0.494) or mortality (P = 0.169).

Intravenous rt-PA administration within 4.5 h after onset of symptoms benefited stroke patients with abnormal consciousness.