Cerebral thrombolysis in the patient suffering from acute stroke

Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability in developed countries. Intervention in the patient suffering from acute stroke now includes thrombolytic therapy. Intravenous (IV) thrombolytic therapy is becoming widely applied with somewhat varying results. Intra-arterial thrombolytic therapy has the theoretical advantage of decreasing the overall dose of fibrinolytic agent in an effort to reduce the likelihood of cerebral hemorrhage. The imaging evaluation of the patient suffering from acute stroke before thrombolysis is summarized followed by a review of the currently available data on IV and intra-arterial thrombolytic therapy. In addition, the technical aspects of intra-arterial thrombolysis are highlighted. Although the results of cerebral intra-arterial thrombolysis for acute stroke are encouraging, the data are premature and await controlled clinical trials including comparison with IV therapy. Copyright © 1998 by W.B. Saunders Company.

Duke Scholars

Author Tony Preston Smith Radiology, Interventional Radiology