Introduction: Reperfusion and neuroprotection are 2 main treatment strategies exist for management of patients with ischemic stroke. This study aimed to assess the 3-month outcome of patients who underwent thrombolytic therapy following ischemic stroke.
Methods: In the present prospective cohort study, the 3-month outcome of patients (mortality, disability) with acute ischemic stroke admitted to neurology department an educational hospital, Kermanshah, Iran, from 2016 to 2019, who had received thrombolytic therapy was assessed. National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and Modified Rankin Score (MRS) were used for measuring the degree of disability (on admission, at the time of discharge and 3 months after thrombolytic therapy).
Results: 217 patients with the mean age of 66.40 ± 13.37 (27 - 97) years were studied (55.3% male). There was no significant correlation between decrease in NIHSS score and age (p = 0.44), sex (p = 0.082), time interval between initiation of symptoms (p = 0.104), and blood pressure on admission (p = 0.156). However, patients with blood sugar lower than 144 had better 3-month outcome (p = 0.045). Additionally, there was no significant correlation between the rate of decrease in MRS score and age (p = 0.813), sex (p = 0.875), time interval between initiation of symptoms (p = 0.495), and blood pressure on admission (p = 0.264). However, patients with blood sugar lower than 144 had better 3-month outcome (p = 0.022). 47 (21.7%) patient died and 170 (78.3%) were discharged. Mean age of the patients who died (73.70 ± 11.85 versus 64.39 ± 13.09 years; p < 0.0001) and their NIHSS score on admission (13.22 ± 6.01 versus 11.28 ± 5.70; p = 0.045) were significantly higher. In other words, the odds of mortality was 3.19 times in patients over 60 years of age (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.18 - 8.62) and 1.83 times in patients with NIHSS score over 12 (95% CI: 0.92 - 3.61).
Conclusion: There was no significant correlation between 3-month disabilities of stroke patients underwent thrombolytic therapy and age, sex, time from initiation of symptoms, or vital signs on admission. Patients with a blood sugar lower than 144 had better 3-month outcome.
Keywords: Tissue plasminogen activator; brain ischemia; stroke; stroke rehabilitation.