Clot busters limit stroke damage despite age; stroke severity

American Stroke Association Meeting Late-Breaking Science Report Abstract: LB 2 (Hall E)

February 12, 2014

Study Highlights:

• Amidst lingering debate, a review by an international collaboration of stroke experts shows timely use of clot busters improves stroke outcomes despite patient age or stroke severity.
• The clot-busting drug tPA can significantly reduce the risk of stroke effects for all subsets of patients if given within 4.5 hours of a stroke.

SAN DIEGO, Feb 12, 2014 – Regardless of a patient’s age, or severity of stroke, prompt treatment with a clot-busting drug limited stroke-related disability, according to late-breaking science presented at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference 2014.

The clot busting drug, tissue plasminogen activator or tPA is the only approved U.S. FDA treatment for acute stroke caused by a blood clot. However, there is still debate regarding the time window in which it should be given and its use in older patients or those with a minor or severe stroke.

An international collaboration of experts reviewed the records of 6,756 stroke patients participating in nine clinical trials. The experts reported that tPA worked better than placebo and decreased a patient’s odds of having long-term disability. Earlier treatment also improved outcomes. Among patients who received the clot buster: Read More