Potential eligibility for recombinant tissue plasminogen activator therapy in children: a population-based study

Thrombolytic Therapy in Cocaine Users with Ischemic Stroke: A Review of Current Practice

Alteplase is the main pharmacological treatment available for intravenous thrombolysis in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Endovascular treatment alone or add-on to intravenous thrombolysis is a valid approach in acute ischemic stroke with cerebral large vessel disease. The most common serious adverse reaction related to alteplase is the development of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage and the presence of cerebral small vessel disease may increase this risk, particularly in cocaine users, even if only few data have been published on this topic. Here we reviewed in cocaine users with acute ischemic stroke the efficacy and safety of thrombolytic therapy.

Acute Ischemic Pediatric Stroke Management: An Extended Window for Mechanical Thrombectomy?

Ischemic stroke is a rare condition to afflict the pediatric population. Congenital cardiomyopathy represents one of several possible etiologies in children. We report a 9-year-old boy who developed right middle cerebral artery stroke secondary to primary restrictive cardiomyopathy. In the absence of pediatric guidelines, the child met adult criteria for mechanical thrombectomy given the small core infarct and large penumbra. The literature suggests children may benefit from mechanical thrombectomy in carefully selected cases. Our patient exemplifies specific circumstances in which acute stroke therapy with thrombolysis and thrombectomy may be safe.

Scientific Rationale for the Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria for Intravenous Alteplase in Acute Ischemic Stroke

Purpose—

To critically review and evaluate the science behind individual eligibility criteria (indication/inclusion and contraindications/exclusion criteria) for intravenous recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (alteplase) treatment in acute ischemic stroke. This will allow us to better inform stroke providers of quantitative and qualitative risks associated with alteplase administration under selected commonly and uncommonly encountered clinical circumstances and to identify future research priorities concerning these eligibility criteria, which could potentially expand the safe and judicious use of alteplase and improve outcomes after stroke.

Methods—

Writing group members were nominated by the committee chair on the basis of their previous work in relevant topic areas and were approved by the American Heart Association Stroke Council’s Scientific Statement Oversight Committee and the American Heart Association’s Manuscript Oversight Committee. The writers used systematic literature reviews, references to published clinical and epidemiology studies, morbidity and mortality reports, clinical and public health guidelines, authoritative statements, personal files, and expert opinion to summarize existing evidence and to indicate gaps in current knowledge and, when appropriate, formulated recommendations using standard American Heart Association criteria. All members of the writing group had the opportunity to comment on and approved the final version of this document. The document underwent extensive American Heart Association internal peer review, Stroke Council Leadership review, and Scientific Statements Oversight Committee review before consideration and approval by the American Heart Association Science Advisory and Coordinating Committee.

Results—

After a review of the current literature, it was clearly evident that the levels of evidence supporting individual exclusion criteria for intravenous alteplase vary widely. Several exclusionary criteria have already undergone extensive scientific study such as the clear benefit of alteplase treatment in elderly stroke patients, those with severe stroke, those with diabetes mellitus and hyperglycemia, and those with minor early ischemic changes evident on computed tomography. Some exclusions such as recent intracranial surgery are likely based on common sense and sound judgment and are unlikely to ever be subjected to a randomized, clinical trial to evaluate safety. Most other contraindications or warnings range somewhere in between. However, the differential impact of each exclusion criterion varies not only with the evidence base behind it but also with the frequency of the exclusion within the stroke population, the probability of coexistence of multiple exclusion factors in a single patient, and the variation in practice among treating clinicians.

Use and in-hospital outcomes of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator in pediatric arterial ischemic stroke patients

BACKGROUND

Outcomes in pediatric stroke are poorly understood. We sought to determine trends in the use of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA), treatment outcomes, and predictors of mortality for pediatric patients with acute ischemic stroke by using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample.

METHODS

Using Nationwide Inpatient Sample data from 2001 to 2010, we identified pediatric patients (age 30 days to 18 years) with the primary diagnosis of arterial ischemic stroke. We studied trends of use of intravenous rt-PA and outcomes after thrombolysis. We also analyzed the associations of demographic factors, comorbidities, and complications of arterial ischemic stroke with in-hospital mortality.

RESULTS

This study included 7044 patients. In-hospital mortality was 4.7%. The comorbidities associated with the greatest rates of in-hospital mortality were mitochondrial disorders (19.5%, P < 0.0001) and hypercoagulable states (11.4%, P < 0.0001). The main complications associated with increased mortality were intracerebral hemorrhage (19.9%, P < 0.0001), sepsis (13.2%, P < 0.0001), and pneumonia (9.3%, P = 0.0007). The rate of rt-PA use was 1.4% (99 patients). rt-PA use increased from 0.9% of patients in 2001-2005 to 2.0% in 2006-2010 (P < 0.0001). Among patients who received rt-PA, the rate of intracerebral hemorrhage was low and without fatalities; however, there was an increased discharge-to-long-term-facilities rate in the rt-PA group (50.8% versus 12.1%, P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

Arterial ischemic stroke in the pediatric population is associated with a greater rate of mortality when related to mitochondrial diseases or hypercoagulability. rt-PA use is increasing in pediatric patients with arterial ischemic stroke. Pediatric patients receiving rt-PA have a low risk of fatal hemorrhage. Although patients receiving rt-PA have a morbidity rate, these individuals may have a worse stroke severity.

Malignant MCA territory infarction in the pediatric population: subgroup analysis of the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Stroke Study

PURPOSE

Malignant middle cerebral artery (MCA) infarctions are thought to be rare in children. In a recent hospital-based study, only 1.3 % of pediatric ischemic strokes were malignant MCA infarctions. However, population-based rates have not been published. We performed subgroup analysis of a population-based study to determine the rate of malignant MCA infarctions in children.

METHODS

In 2005 and 2010, all ischemic stroke-related emergency visits and hospital admissions among the 1.3 million residents of the five-county Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky area were ascertained. Cases that occurred in patients 18 years and younger were reviewed in detail, and corresponding clinical and neuroimaging findings were recorded. Infarctions were considered malignant if they involved 50 % or more of the MCA territory and resulted in cerebral edema and mass effect.

RESULTS

In 2005, eight pediatric ischemic strokes occurred in the study population, none of which were malignant infarctions. In 2010, there were also eight ischemic strokes. Of these, two malignant MCA infarctions were identified: (1) a 7-year-old boy who underwent hemicraniectomy and survived with moderate disability at 30 days and (2) a 17-year-old girl with significant prestroke disability who was not offered hemicraniectomy and died following withdrawal of care. Thus, among 16 children over 2 years, there were two malignant MCA infarctions (12.5 %, 95 % CI 0-29).

CONCLUSIONS

Malignant MCA infarctions in children may not be as rare as previously thought. Given the significant survival and functional outcome benefit conferred by hemicraniectomy in adults, future studies focusing on its potential role in pediatric patients are warranted.