Intravenous thrombolysis is more effective in ischemic cardioembolic strokes than in non-cardioembolic?

Abstract

It was suggested that intravenous thrombolysis (IT) leads to larger extent recanalization in cardioembolic stroke. In this work we assess if this has beneficial clinical traduction. We evaluated 177 patients undergoing IT, which were categorized into cardioembolic (CE) and non-cardioembolic (NCE). National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and modified Rankin scale were compared. The mean age was 67.4 ± 12.01 and 53.8% were male. The mean NIHSS was: 14 (admission), 9 (24 h) and 6 (discharge), similar in subgroups. The difference between NIHSS at admission and 24 hours was 4.17 ± 4.92 (CE: 4.08 ± 4.71; NCE: 4.27 ± 5.17, p=0.900) and at admission and discharge there was an average difference of 6.74 ± 5.58 (CE: 6.97 ± 5.68; NCE: 6.49 ± 5.49, p=0.622). The mRS at discharge and 3 months was not significantly different by subtype, although individuals whose event was NCE are more independent at 3 months. Ours findings argue against a specific paper of IT in CE. It can result from heterogeneity of NCE group.