Summary
Thrombolysis in ischaemic stroke
Gómez-Choco Cuesta MJ, Obach Baurier V
Affiliation of the authors
Stroke Unit Clinical Institute of Neurosciences. Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Spain.
DOI
Quote
Gómez-Choco Cuesta MJ, Obach Baurier V. Thrombolysis in ischaemic stroke. Emergencias. 2008;20:419-27
Summary
Intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) is the only drug currently approved for
the treatment of acute ischemic stroke in the first 3 hours after onset of symptoms.
However, only a small percentage of stroke patients are candidates for rt-PA therapy.
Newer imaging techniques, particularly magnetic resonance imaging, offer essential
tools for selecting patients who would benefit from thrombolysis more than 3 hours after
the onset of symptoms. Intra-arterial techniques will also play an important role in
treating acute stroke in the future.