Thrombolysis not associated with distal clot migration: study

Australian researchers are surprised to find no evidence that IV thrombolysis makes thrombi in ischaemic stroke less retrievable
Clare Pain
Brain image showing blood vessels

Clots in patients with ischaemic stroke given IV thrombolysis (IVT) within an extended window appear to carry no increased risk of moving distally and becoming irretrievable, a post-hoc analysis shows.

Melbourne researchers used data from the double-blinded EXTEND trial (EXtending the Time for thrombolysis in Emergency Neurological Deficits) in which patients presenting to the ED with ischaemic stroke within 4.5-9 hours of onset were randomised to either IV alteplase (0.9mg/kg) or placebo.