NEUROLOGY 2005;64:E1-E2
© 2005 American Academy of Neurology
Clot-busting therapy helps stroke victims - but only if they get treatment in time
Authors: Madeline C. Fields, MD and Steven R. Levine, MD
What is thrombolytic therapy?
Thrombolytic therapy is the injection of a medication - tissue plasminogen activator
(tPA or t-PA) - that breaks up a blood clot ("clot buster").
tPA can be injected with a needle into a vein (intravenous - IV),
or into an artery (intra-arterial - IA) via a catheter,
or both (IV/IA) - one after the other.
It's like "Mr Muscle" for a blocked sink (see figure below).
When is tPA given?
IV tPA must be given very early after a stroke by a neurologist, emergency room physician, or other physician specifically trained in stroke, after confirming that the stroke is ischaemic.
It is given within 3 hours after the first appearance of the stroke.
IA tPA can be given up to 6 hours after the stroke has occurred under x-ray guidance to the blood vessels to the brain by a specially trained doctor.
Not all hospitals have the equipment and types of doctors needed to use IA tPA.