Safety of tirofiban for patients with acute ischemic stroke in routine clinical practice

The aim of the present study was to investigate the safety of tirofiban alone and in combination with various treatments in acute ischemic stroke (AIS). A total of 120 patients with AIS were included in the study, and these patients were divided into three treatment groups: Group A (tirofiban alone, n=68), group B (tirofiban plus thrombolytic therapy, n=26), and group C (tirofiban as a 'bridging therapy', n=26). Risk factors, stroke severity, initial imaging, treatment regimens, complications and long-term outcomes were analyzed. In total, eight patients (6.7%) [six patients (23.1%) in group B and two patients (7.7%) in group C] had hemorrhage during or subsequent to treatment. Sixteen patients (six in group A, eight in group B and two in group C) succumbed during the hospital admission period. The mortality rate was 13.3% (8.8% for group A, 30.7% for group B and 7.7% for group C) in the acute phase. A favorable outcome (modified Rankin Scale score, 0-2) in the first three months after stroke was only observed in 43.3% of patients (44.1% in group A, 46.7% in group B and 36.4% in group C). The mean Barthel index was 72.3 in group A, 84.4 in group B and 56.8 in group C (total patient population, 71.0). The results of the present study have shown that stroke treatment with tirofiban is safe in AIS. A large randomized controlled trial in the future is required to decrease the incidence of the minor bleeding complications associated with tirofiban therapy.