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- Title
Intra-arterial thrombolysis vs. standard treatment or intravenous thrombolysis in adults with acute ischemic stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
- Authors
Nam, Julian; Jing, He; O'Reilly, Daria
- Abstract
Background Recent evidence has suggested that intra-arterial thrombolysis may provide benefit beyond intravenous thrombolysis in ischemic stroke patients. Previous meta-analyses have only compared intra-arterial thrombolysis with standard treatment without thrombolysis. The objective was to review the benefits and harms of intra-arterial thrombolysis in ischemic stroke patients. Methods We undertook a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials comparing the efficacy and safety of intra-arterial thrombolysis with either standard treatment or intravenous thrombolysis following acute ischemic stroke. Primary outcomes included poor functional outcomes (modified Rankin Scale 3-6), mortality, and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage. Study quality was assessed, and outcomes were stratified by comparison treatment received. Results Four trials ( n = 351) comparing intra-arterial thrombolysis with standard treatment were identified. Intra-arterial thrombolysis reduced the risk of poor functional outcomes (modified Rankin Scale 3-6) [relative risk ( RR) = 0·80; 95% confidence interval = 0·67-0·95; P = 0·01]. Mortality was not increased ( RR = 0·82; 95% confidence interval = 0·56-1·21; P = 0·32); however, risk of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage was nearly four times more likely ( RR = 3·90; 95% confidence interval = 1·41-10·76; P = 0·006). Two trials ( n = 81) comparing intra-arterial thrombolysis with intravenous thrombolysis were identified. Intra-arterial thrombolysis was not found to reduce poor functional outcomes (modified Rankin Scale 3-6) ( RR = 0·68; 95% confidence interval = 0·46-1·00; P = 0·05). Mortality was not increased ( RR = 1·12; 95% confidence interval = 0·47-2·68; P = 0·79); neither was symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage ( RR = 1·13; 95% confidence interval = 0·32-3·99; P = 0·85). Differences in time from symptom onset-to-treatment and type of thrombolytic administered were found across the trials. Conclusions This analysis finds a modest benefit of intra-arterial thrombolysis over standard treatment, although it does not find a clear benefit of intra-arterial thrombolysis over intravenous thrombolysis in acute ischemic stroke patients. However, few trials, small sample sizes, and indirectness limit the strength of evidence.
- Subjects
STROKE treatment; THROMBOLYTIC therapy; INTRAVENOUS therapy; INTRA-arterial infusions; SYSTEMATIC reviews; META-analysis; ISCHEMIA
- Publication
International Journal of Stroke, 2015, Vol 10, Issue 1, p13
- ISSN
1747-4930
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/j.1747-4949.2012.00914.x