The smoking–thrombolysis paradox and acute ischemic stroke

Abstract
Smokers with acute myocardial infarction have better outcomes after thrombolysis than nonsmokers. The authors evaluated the independent effect of smoking on short-term outcome following IV thrombolysis for acute ischemic stroke. After adjusting for covariates, recent smokers who received thrombolysis had a significantly greater drop in 24-hour median stroke severity scores from baseline than nonsmokers who received thrombolysis and lower mortality over 1 year.