J Korean Radiol Soc.  2002 Oct;47(4):343-350. 10.3348/jkrs.2002.47.4.343.

Influential Factors of Clinical Outcome of Local Intra-Arterial Thrombolysis using Urokinase in Patients with Hyperacute Ischemic Stroke

• Song JM
• Yoon W
• Kim JK
• Seo JJ
• Heo SH
• Park JG
• Jeong YY
• Kang HK

• KMID: 2103655
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/jkrs.2002.47.4.343

Abstract

PURPOSE
To evaluate the clinical outcome and other relevant factors in cases where local intra-aterial thrombolysis (LIT) is used for the threatment of hyperacute ischemic stroke.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Forty-eight hyperacute ischemic stroke patients were treated by LIT, using urokinase, within six hours of ictus, and for evaluation of their neurological status, the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score was used. Angiographic recanalization was classified according to Mori recanalization grades. Three months after LIT, the outcome was assessed by clinical examination using the modified Rankin scale (good outcome: RS=0-3; poor outcome: RS=4-6). In all patients, the findings of pre- and post- LIT CT, and angiography, as well as neurological status and hemorrhagic complications, were also analysed.
RESULTS
Thirty-three patients had occlusions of the middle cerebral artery (MCA), and 15, of the internal carotid artery (ICA). The NIHSS score averaged 16.9 at the onset of therapy and 13.5 at 24 hours later. Successful recanalization (Mori grade 3,4) was achieved in 28 (58.3%) of 48 patients, but in 20 (41.7%) the attempt failed. Twenty-two (45.8%) of the 48 patients had a good outcome, but in (54.2%) the outcome was poor. Thirteen (40.6%) of 32 patients with MCA occlusions and 13 (81.2%) of 16 with ICA occlusions had a poor outcome. Eight patients (16.7%) died. Overall, hemorrhages occured in 20 (41.7%) of 48 patients, with symptomatic hemorrhage in ten. Five (50%) of these ten died.
CONCLUSION
LIT using urokinase for hyperacute ischemic stroke is feasible; patients with MCA occlusions had better outcomes than those with ICA occlusions. Hemorrhagic complications of LIT were frequent, and in cases of symptomatic hemorrhage a fatal outcome may be expected.

Keyword

Brain, ischemia; Brain, blood flow; Thrombolysis; Urokinase

MeSH Terms

Angiography
Carotid Artery, Internal
Fatal Outcome
Hemorrhage
Humans
Middle Cerebral Artery
National Institutes of Health (U.S.)
Stroke*
Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator*
Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator