Vol 46, No 1 (2012)

open access

Page views 267
Article views/downloads 336
Get Citation

Connect on Social Media

Connect on Social Media

Intravenous thrombolysis for acute ischaemic stroke in patients not fully adhering to the European licence in Poland

Michał Karliñski1, Adam Kobayashi12, Tomasz Litwin1, Piotr Sobolewski3, Waldemar Fryze4, Sławomir Romanowicz5, Michał Glonek6, Walenty Nyka7, Paweł Lisewski3, Anna Członkowska18
DOI: 10.5114/ninp.2012.27179
Neurol Neurochir Pol 2012;46(1):3-14.

Abstract

Background and purpose

The European licence for alteplase excludes from thrombolysis large groups of acute stroke patients. The Polish licence was revised in 2010, but until then many patients could receive the treatment only off-label. Our aim was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of intravenous alteplase in Polish patients not fully adhering to the original European drug licence compared to patients treated strictly on-label.

Material and methods

We analysed all patient data contributed to the Safe Implementation of Thrombolysis in Stroke registry from Polish centres between October 2003 and July 2009.

Results

Off-label thrombolysis was administered in 224/946 (23.7%) patients. The most frequent deviations were: use of intravenous antihypertensives (8.2%), age > 80 years (5.4%), time-to-treatment > 3 hours (4.5%), oral anticoagulation (4.2%), previous stroke with concomitant diabetes (2.1%), and previous stroke ≤ 3 months (1.5%). We found no differences in the ratio of symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage (sICH) according to SITS, ECASS and NINDS definitions. Adjusted odds for 3-month mortality were similar (OR 0.86, 95% CI: 0.51-2.41), excluding patients with previous stroke ≤ 3 months (OR 3.48, 95% CI: 0.96-12.7). Adjusted odds for death or dependency were slightly increased (OR 1.40, 95% CI: 0.92-2.13), especially in patients aged > 80 years (OR 2.80, 95% CI: 1.11-7.05), and with previous stroke ≤ 3 months (OR 4.07, 95% CI: 0.97-17.1).

Conclusions

Polish stroke patients receiving off-label thrombolysis tended to achieve a less favourable outcome, but they were not at increased risk of sICH or death. Considering the current Polish license for alteplase, it may be reasonable to additionally stratify the risk in patients aged > 80 years or with previous stroke ≤ 3 months.

Article available in PDF format

View PDF Download PDF file