J Korean Neurol Assoc.  1990 Jun;8(1):1-13.

Intra-arterial Thrombolytic Therapy in Acute Ischemic Stroke a Preliminary Study

• Lee BI
• Lee BC
• Kim JS
• Kim DI
• Chung TS
• Suh JH

Abstract

We conducted a pilot study to evaluate the possibility that the intra-arterial thrombolybolytic therapy might lead to recanalization of the acutely occluded cerebral arteries and subsequent clinical improvement in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Mean time from the onset of symptoms to the start of treatment and mean dosage of thrombolytic agent, Urokinase, were 6.4 hours and 120.3 X 10(4) units respectively. Seven of 12 cases with acute ischemic stroke demonstrated successful recanalization; 5 cases achieved complete recanalization; 2 cases partial recanalization, and remaining 5 cases did not show any evidence of recanalization. Neurological evaluation at 1 week and 3 months after the onset of symptoms suggested better outcome in a cases with recanalization. Repeat CT scan at 24 hours and 1 week after the procedure demonstrated evidence of hemorrhagic transformation in the infarcted territories in 5 cases(all in recanalized group), but clinical deteriorations were observed in only 2 case. Though statistical analysis could not be done because of the limited number of cases, these results suggest that the intra-arterial thrombolytic therapy had a role in the management of acute major carebral ischemic stroke.

MeSH Terms

Cerebral Arteries
Humans
Pilot Projects
Stroke*
Thrombolytic Therapy*
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator
Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator