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Updated: Feb 20, 2026
Optimized Management of Endovascular Treatment for Acute Ischemic Stroke
Published on: January 18, 2018
[Factors associated with long-term prognosis after ischemic stroke treated with fibrinolytic agents]
Alejandro Gallardo Tur1, Natalia García Casares2, Carlos de la Cruz Cosme1
1UGC Intercentros de Neurociencias, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA), Hospitales Universitarios Regional de Málaga y Virgen de la Victoria, Málaga, España.
Insights
Functional recovery after ischemic stroke treated with fibrinolysis depends on age, treatment time, and severity. Patient status at 24 hours post-stroke is the strongest predictor of long-term outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Vascular Neurology
- Stroke Medicine
Context:
- Ischemic stroke treatment with fibrinolytic agents is a critical intervention.
- Understanding factors influencing functional recovery is essential for patient management.
- This study retrospectively analyzed patients receiving fibrinolytic therapy in Spain.
Purpose:
- To identify variables associated with improved functional outcomes 3 months after ischemic stroke.
- To analyze the correlation between baseline characteristics, early response, and long-term recovery.
Summary:
- Sixty-three patients treated with fibrinolysis were analyzed.
- Key variables included time to treatment, National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores at baseline and 24 hours, age, and modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at 3 months.
- NIHSS at 24 hours and change in NIHSS score were strongly correlated with functional outcome.
Impact:
- Age, time to treatment, and stroke severity are significant predictors of functional recovery.
- Early neurological status at 24 hours post-treatment is the most critical prognostic factor.
- Findings can inform clinical decision-making and patient counseling regarding stroke recovery.
Objectives:
To analyze the variables associated with better functional outcome 3 months after ischemic stroke treated with fibrinolytic agents.
Material And Methods:
The cases of 63 patients with characteristics leading to activation of a stroke code were analyzed retrospectively. The patients received fibrinolytic therapy in a referral hospital for the western district of Malaga, Spain. We recorded the time until start of fibrinolytic therapy, severity according to the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) at baseline and at 24 hours, and functional outcome at 3 months according to the modified Rankin Scale.
Results:
Data for 63 patients with a mean (SD) age of 65 (11) years were included. The mean time until start of fibrinolytic therapy was 151 (42) minutes. The mean NIHSS scores were 15.5 (4.8) points at baseline and 9.1 (7.13) at 24 hours. The mean change in score at 24 hours was 6.3 (5.8) points. The findings of correlation analysis between scores on the modified Rankin scale and other variables were as follows: NIHSS score at 24 hours, ρ = 0.73; P < .01; NIHSS at baseline, ρ = 0.34; P = .01); age, ρ = 0.41; P = .001); time until start of fibrinolysis, ρ = 0.21; P = .09); change in NIHSS score at 24 hours, ρ = -0.61; P = .001).
Conclusion:
The prognosis for the functional recovery of patients given intravenous fibrinolytic therapy after stroke depends on such factors as age, time treatment is started, severity, and the patient's status at 24 hours. The last factor is the one that is most strongly related to prognosis.
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