IV vs. IA TPA in acute ischemic stroke with CT angiographic evidence of major vessel occlusion: a feasibility study.

Background And Aims: Studies suggest that stroke patients with thrombus in a major cerebral vessel respond less favorably to intravenous (IV) thrombolysis. The purpose of this study was to test the feasibility of a protocol comparing IV versus intra-arterial (IA) recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) in an acute ischemic stroke with major vessel occlusion.

Methods: Consecutive ischemic stroke patients presenting <3 h from symptom onset with major vessel occlusion on CT angiogram (CTA) were randomly assigned to IV TPA (per NINDS protocol) or IA TPA (22 mg over 2 h).

Aortic arch plaque in stroke.

Patients with severe aortic arch plaque are at high risk for stroke. This article addresses the complex nature of the association between aortic arch plaque and stroke. The aortic arch plaque poses a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge to the clinician.