Journal Article

Outcome of patients with occlusions of the internal carotid artery or the main stem of the middle cerebral artery with NIHSS score of less than 5: comparison between thrombolysed and non-thrombolysed patients

Arnold, Marcel, Jung, Simon, Ozdoba, Christoph, Gralla, Jan, Fischer, Urs, Schroth, Gerhard, Heldner, Mirjam R, Mono, Marie-Luise, Weck, Anja, El-Koussy, Marwan, Zubler, Christoph, Mattle, Heinrich P, Mordasini, Pasquale

2015

Overview

Background and purposeThe use of thrombolysis in patients with minor neurological deficits and large vessel occlusion is controversial.MethodsWe compared the outcome of patients with low National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores and large vessel occlusions between thrombolysed and non-thrombolysed patients.Results88 (1.7%) of 5312 consecutive patients with acute (within 24 h) ischaemic stroke had occlusions of the internal carotid or the main stem of the middle cerebral artery and baseline NIHSS scores ≤5.47 (53.4%) were treated without thrombolysis, and 41 (46.6%) received intravenous thrombolysis, endovascular therapy or both. Successful recanalisation on MR or CT angiography at 24 h was more often observed in thrombolysed than in non-thrombolysed patients (78.9% versus 10.5%; p<0.001). Neurological deterioration (increase of NIHSS score ≥1 compared to baseline) was observed in 22.7% of non-thrombolysed versus 10.3% of thrombolysed after 24 h (p=0.002), in 33.3% versus 12.5% at hospital discharge (p=0.015) and in 41.4% versus 15% at 3 months (p<0.001). Symptomatic intracerebral haemorrhage occurred in two (asymptomatic in five) thrombolysed and in none (asymptomatic in three) non-thrombolysed. Thrombolysis was an independent predictor of favourable outcome (p=0.030) but not survival (p=0.606) at 3 months.ConclusionsNon-thrombolysed patients with mild deficits and large vessel occlusion deteriorated significantly more often within 3 months than thrombolysed patients. Symptomatic intracerebral haemorrhages occurred in less than 5% of patients in both groups. These data suggest that thrombolysis is safe and effective in these patients. Therefore, randomised trials in patients with large vessel occlusions and mild or rapidly improving symptoms are needed.

• Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subject: Aged / Blood clots / Brain Ischemia - diagnostic imaging / Brain Ischemia - drug therapy / Cardiac arrhythmia / Cardiovascular disease / Carotid arteries / Carotid Artery Thrombosis - diagnostic imaging / Carotid Artery Thrombosis - drug therapy / Cerebral Angiography / Coronary vessels / Diabetes / Endovascular Procedures / Etiology / Family medical history / Female / Humans / Hypertension / Intracranial Thrombosis - diagnostic imaging / Intracranial Thrombosis - drug therapy / Ischemia / Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Male / Medical imaging / Middle Cerebral Artery - diagnostic imaging / Patients / Risk factors / Severity of Illness Index / Stroke / Thrombolytic Therapy / Transient ischemic attack / Treatment Outcome / Vein & artery diseases