Thrombolysis for Acute Stroke in Routine Clinical Practice

Abstract
ACUTE ISCHEMIC STROKE is a major medical problem in the United States, where approximately 600 000 new events occur each year. Although few specific treatment options exist, thrombolytic therapy with tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) improved neurological outcomes in a randomized controlled trial.1,2 The beneficial effects of tPA therapy appear to be long lasting2 and cost-effective,3 and thrombolytic therapy is now part of nearly every treatment guideline and consensus statement for acute ischemic stroke.4 Despite these recommendations regarding the use of thrombolytic therapy, only a minority of eligible patients are treated with tPA,5,6 and national efforts are under way to increase the use of tPA.

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