The Cologne stroke experience: safety and outcome in 450 patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis.

Background: Predictors of outcome and safety in intravenous thrombolysis within 3 h in clinical routine is a matter of ongoing debate. Available reports contain small patient numbers or summarize heterogeneous multicenter data.

Methods: Four hundred and fifty patients received intravenous thrombolysis within 3 h after stroke.

Acetylsalicylic acid pretreatment, concomitant heparin therapy and the risk of early intracranial hemorrhage following systemic thrombolysis for acute ischemic stroke.

Background: The risk of intracerebral hemorrhage in systemic thrombolysis for acute ischemic stroke after acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) pretreatment or with subsequent heparin is controversially discussed.

Methods: 300 consecutive stroke patients were treated with recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA) in a prospective open study (92 pretreated with ASA, 202 ASA nonusers) with 3 months of follow-up. After thrombolysis, 122 patients received low-dose, 153 patients high-dose heparin.